SCOTLAND

Departmental Buildings

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many  (a) new builds and  (b) major refurbishments were completed by his Department for a cost in excess of £0.5 million in (i) 2005-06, (ii) 2006-07 and (iii) 2007-08 to which the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method or equivalent was applied; how many such buildings were assessed as (A) pass, (B) good, (C) very good and (D) excellent; and if he will make a statement.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office has not undertaken any new builds or major refurbishments in this period.

Departmental Buildings

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many  (a) new builds and  (b) major refurbishments for a cost in excess of £0.5 million were completed by his Department in (i) 2005-06, (ii) 2006-07 and (iii) 2007-08.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office has not undertaken any new builds or major refurbishments in this period.

Departmental Marketing

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department spent on branding and marketing activity in 2007-08.

David Cairns: Nothing.

Departmental Sick Leave

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the average number of days taken as sick leave in his Department was in each of the last five years for which information is available; and if he will make a statement.

David Cairns: All Scotland Office staff are on secondment from the Scottish Executive or the Ministry of Justice; the office does not maintain a central record of sick absences. Such records are held by the parent Departments who publish their sick absence statistics.

TRANSPORT

Aviation: Safety

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what modelling National Air Traffic Services have carried out on public safety zones; and what methodology underpins the modelling.

Jim Fitzpatrick: National Air Traffic Services have modelled all public safety zones (PSZs) since, and including, the review of PSZs undertaken by the Department for Transport in 2002. The methodology underpinning this modelling is considered in the Department's publication Third Party Risk Near Airports and Public Safety Zone Policy' (ISBN 1 85112 418 7) as part of the studies that informed the review.
	This document is available on the Department's website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/aviation/safety/thirdpartyrisknearairportsan2989.

Bournemouth Airport

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether there are plans to upgrade the main road serving Bournemouth International Airport in light of the planned expansion of the airport.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Manchester Airports Ltd., the owner of Bournemouth International Airport, has recently been granted planning permission to redevelop the existing terminal in order to cater for the predicted increase in passenger throughput from 917,000 passengers per annum in 2005-06 to 4.5 million by 2030. The approval was conditional upon its undertaking improvements to junctions on the existing network in the immediate vicinity of the airport and funding better public transport links to Bournemouth. It did not require the construction of a link to the A338 Bournemouth Spur road.
	The draft Master Plan for Bournemouth Airport confirms that, based on current transport growth trends, a new road link from the A338 is not necessary for the airport to achieve its planned growth.
	Furthermore, the South West region has not identified such a link as a regional priority within its regional funding allocation advice to Government, and no Major Scheme bid has yet been received by the Department for Transport.

Departmental Trade Unions

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which trade unions represent members of staff in  (a) her Department and  (b) its agencies.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport staff are represented by the following trade unions: Public and Commercial Services, First Division Association and Prospect. The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency and the Government Car and Despatch Agency are also represented by Unite.

Departmental Vetting

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what procedures her Department follows for checking the criminal records of employees; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 18 June 2008,  Official Report, column 938W.

Fuels: Prices

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information she holds on the percentage change in the pump price of  (a) petrol and  (b) diesel in each (i) EU and (ii) G8 country between January 2005 and April 2008; and what the average price change has been.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 24 June 2008
	The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform publishes data on EU pump prices in their Quarterly Energy Prices publication available at:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/statistics/publications/prices/index.html
	Table 1 as follows illustrates the EU pump prices in each individual country between January 2005 and April 2008. These numbers are in nominal terms and during this time the €/£ exchange rate changed from €1.43/£1 to €1.26/£1.
	The Department for Transport does not hold such information for G8 member countries.
	
		
			  Table 1: Fuel prices in EU member states (pence per litre) 
			   Petrol pump prices  Diesel pump prices 
			   January 2005  April 2008  Percentage change  January 2005  April 2008  Percentage change 
			 United Kingdom 79.0 107.6 36 84.2 116.6 39 
			 Austria 64.0 98.8 54 58.8 99.7 70 
			 Belgium 75.1 113.6 51 60.0 95.9 60 
			 Denmark 77.2 111.0 44 63.9 105.8 66 
			 Finland 80.4 113.0 41 61.6 100.1 63 
			 France 73.0 110.2 51 64.3 102.8 60 
			 Germany 78.1 112.7 44 68.2 106.5 56 
			 Greece 53.9 89.7 66 54.4 94.5 74 
			 Ireland 66.2 95.0 44 66.7 96.4 44 
			 Italy 76.5 110.2 44 70.6 107.5 52 
			 Luxembourg 63.4 96.3 52 50.9 89.8 76 
			 Netherlands 87.8 124.3 42 63.9 103.7 62 
			 Portugal 70.1 111.7 59 58.6 99.8 70 
			 Spain 59.4 90.3 52 56.8 91.8 62 
			 Sweden 77.6 105.6 36 68.7 109.0 59 
			 Cyprus 53.2 82.2 55 50.7 86.5 71 
			 Czech Republic 56.8 98.6 74 57.2 100.6 76 
			 Estonia 47.4 83.8 77 49.0 91.0 86 
			 Hungary 67.5 94.0 39 66.0 98.7 50 
			 Latvia 50.4 83.0 65 49.4 87.6 77 
			 Lithuania 49.8 84.1 69 50.3 87.9 75 
			 Malta 60.9 87.1 43 58.3 87.6 50 
			 Poland 61.7 100.1 62 58.6 99.0 69 
			 Slovakia 60.2 96.8 61 61.4 102.6 67 
			 Slovenia 57.7 85.4 48 57.4 88.8 55 
			 EU average 65.9 99.4 51 60.4 98.0 62 
			  Note: No data for pump prices in January 2005 were available for Bulgaria and Romania.

Lorries: Working Hours

Elliot Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many drivers of foreign-registered lorries have been prosecuted for exceeding limitations on driving hours in the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) has not prosecuted any drivers of foreign-registered lorries for exceeding limitations on driving hours in the last 12 months.
	There were very few prosecutions of drivers of foreign-registered lorries because it is not possible—either for VOSA or the police—to require non-UK residents to return to the UK to attend court on such matters. The introduction of graduated fixed penalties and deposits in spring 2009 will, however, ensure that they do pay the relevant penalty.

Parking: Disabled

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many Blue Badge disabled driver badges were issued in  (a) Chorley,  (b) Lancashire and  (c) the UK in 1987; and what percentages occurred in such numbers between 1987 and 2007.

Rosie Winterton: Data on Blue Badge (previously Orange Badge) disabled parking permits are only available from 1994/95 onwards. Data are collected at county and unitary authority level only. It is therefore not available for Chorley, only Lancashire as a whole. Data are only available for England and not for the UK.
	The latest available figures, as at 31 March for each year, are as follows: in 1995, 58,040 badges were issued in Lancashire and 1,462,798 in England as a whole. In 2007, 69,306 badges were issued in Lancashire and 2,318,367 in England.
	This shows a 19 per cent. increase in Lancashire and a 58 per cent. increase for England between 1995 and 2007.

Railways: Leeds

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of  (a) rail and  (b) road are planned to be constructed in (i) Leeds West constituency and (ii) Leeds Metropolitan District in the next 10 years; and in what location in each case.

Tom Harris: Information in regards to rail is a matter for Network Rail as the owner and operator of the national rail network. Network Rail has advised that the information requested is not available.
	On roads, there are currently two local major road schemes that are currently under construction within the Leeds Metropolitan district. These schemes are being taken forward by Leeds city council, as local highway authority, with the Department providing funding towards the scheme costs. Both are expected to be completed and opened to traffic later this year. Details are as follows:
	East Leeds Link Road—this scheme is 2.4 miles in length and will connect the Inner Ring Road Stages 6 and 7, at South Accommodation Road, with the M1 at Junction 45.
	Leeds Inner Ring Road Stage 7—this scheme is a 0.8 mile dual-carriageway extension largely on a viaduct from the recently completed Inner Ring Road Stage 6 to the Hunslet Distributor Road.
	The Highways Agency is responsible for trunk roads and motorways. There are currently no Highways Agency roads within the Leeds West constituency. However, the Agency is currently examining the options for capacity and traffic management improvements on the M62 Junction 25-28 and M1 Junction 39-42, of which junctions 27-28 of the M62 and junctions 41-42 falls within the Leeds Metropolitan district area.
	The M62 Junction 27-28 is approximately 3.29 miles and the M1 Junction 41-42 is 1.52 miles in length. It is not possible to cite the lengths of additional lane planned to be constructed, because options are still being examined and no specific scheme proposal has yet been approved.
	In addition, there could be other schemes that are either underway or planned which will be funded by private developers with the two locations.
	We expect to seek updated advice from regions on their transport priorities later in the summer as part of the second round of the regional funding allocations process. This will provide the opportunity for Leeds city council to inform the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Transport Board of any future proposals for local major road and public transport schemes.

Trains: Leeds

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many  (a) locomotives,  (b) multiple units,  (c) freight wagons and  (d) carriages of each class were in use by each train operating company on the rail networks through Leeds West constituency in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Tom Harris: This information is not held by the Department for Transport.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Biofuels: EU Action

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on EU targets on levels of biofuels use in the EU, with particular reference to their effect on food prices and food security in the EU.

Phil Woolas: The Government are concerned about the effect of rising food prices and the contribution that the demand for biofuels can make to that. The Government will consider their position on the EU targets for biofuels in the light of the findings of the Gallagher Review, due to be published shortly.

Climate Change Bill

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will estimate the costs and benefits stated in the final impact assessment of the Climate Change Bill with reference to the  (a) highest and  (b) lowest interest rate used in the Stern review.

Phil Woolas: The Stern review does not set out any assumptions regarding interest rates. Therefore it is not possible to provide estimates of the costs and benefits of the Climate Change Bill using these assumptions.

Ozone Layer

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the quantity of ozone-depleting substances that will enter the waste stream in  (a) 2008,  (b) 2009 and  (c) 2010;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the proportion of ozone-depleting substances arising from the disposal of plastic foam insulation in building panels which will enter the waste stream in  (a) 2008,  (b) 2009 and  (c) 2010.

Phil Woolas: Current estimates suggest that the proportion of ozone-depleting substances arising from the disposal of plastic foam insulation in building panels entering the waste stream between 2008 and 2010 should not be significant as the panels will still be in use in buildings.
	The significance of plastic foam insulation as waste is expected to increase in the longer term as more buildings containing these panels are redeveloped. A rough approximation drawing on wider European and global estimates would suggest that around 100,000 tonnes of ozone-depleting substances might be in some one million tonnes of buildings foam in existing buildings in the UK.
	Estimates are not available of overall quantities of ozone-depleting substances that will enter the waste stream in 2008-10. Ozone-depleting substances are currently being recovered for destruction from refrigeration and cooling equipment, from some insulation panels from cold stores and from walk-in refrigerators and end-of-life vehicles.

Pest Control

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many infestations of  (a) rats and  (b) other vermin were reported in each region in England in each year since 1997.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 24 June 2008
	DEFRA does not collect statistics on the number of reported infestations of rats or other "vermin".
	DEFRA will shortly be publishing an interim report on rodent presence in domestic properties as revealed by the English House Condition Survey data for 2002-03 and 2003-04. Key findings are that the occurrences of rats inside and outside properties in these years are not significantly different from those observed in 2001.

Pesticides: EU Action

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice he has received from the Pesticides Safety Directorate on EU proposals to legislate in the area of crop protection.

Phil Woolas: The Pesticides Safety Directorate recently prepared a report assessing the impact on crop protection in the UK of hazard-based approval criteria for active substances and provisions for comparative assessment and substitution of products, which are contained in the Commission's proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market. The report assesses the potential impact of the Commission's proposals and of amendments adopted in the first reading report of the Parliament. It concludes that the Commission's proposals could remove up to 15 per cent. of the active substances assessed, while the Parliament's proposed amendments could ultimately remove up to 85 per cent. of those substances.
	I have put a copy of the report in the Libraries of both Houses.

Pesticides: EU Law

Elliot Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the position of the Government is on proposed changes to EU rules for approval and use of pesticides.

Phil Woolas: The Government agree that plant protection products should be properly controlled, and support much of the proposed regulation, particularly where it would improve harmonisation. The Government are, however, concerned that the proposals for hazard cut-off criteria could remove some active substances which are very important for agriculture and horticulture without securing any meaningful benefit in terms of consumer safety. The Government therefore abstained from voting when the presidency's compromise text was put to the Agriculture and Fisheries Council for political agreement in June.

Rivers: Hertfordshire

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will visit rivers Beane and Mimram in Hertfordshire to assess the condition of chalk rivers in Hertfordshire.

Phil Woolas: I have asked the Environment Agency for a report into this subject.

Seagulls and Pigeons

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimates his Department and its predecessors have made of the size of the  (a) seagull and  (b) pigeon population in England in each year since 1997.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 24 June 2008
	The information requested is as follows:
	 Gulls
	The numbers of gulls breeding in England are only periodically surveyed. The last survey ('Seabird 2000') was carried out during the period 1998 to 2002. By comparing with the previous survey, conducted during 1985-88, Natural England is able to estimate changes in the size of English breeding populations. The following table provides estimates of the current (1998 to 2002) breeding abundance and recent (since 1985-88) population trends for the four most widespread species in England.
	
		
			  Species  Estimated number of breeding pairs (1998 to 2002)  Breeding population trend (1985-88 to 1998 to 2002) (percentage) 
			 Black-headed gull 82,728 +0.5 
			 Lesser black-backed gull 44,133 +98 
			 Herring gull 43,932 +59 
			 Great black-backed gull 1,476 +4 
		
	
	Small numbers of both common and Mediterranean gull also nest in England.
	 Pigeons
	There has been no assessment of the size of the breeding population of woodpigeons in England since 1988-91, when it was estimated at about 1.5 million pairs. Trends in the breeding season abundance of woodpigeons in England have been monitored annually since 1994 by the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), co-ordinated by the British Trust for Ornithology. Between 1994 and 2005, the numbers recorded by the BBS in England increased by 29 per cent. (and between 1999 and 2005 by 14 per cent.).
	Feral pigeon population size was estimated at over 100,000 pairs in 1968-72 and 100,000-250,000 pairs in 1988-91. Data from the BBS have so far shown neither a significant increase nor decrease in the feral pigeon population since 1994.

Seagulls and Pigeons

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate his Department has made of the cost to local authorities of clearing up after damage arising from  (a) seagull and  (b) pigeon populations.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 24 June 2008
	DEFRA does not hold information on costs incurred by local authorities for clearing up damage arising from gull and pigeon populations.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost of all UK military operations in Afghanistan has been since 2007.

Des Browne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 26 March 2008,  Official Report, column 163W to the hon. Member for Shrewsbury and Atcham (Daniel Kawczynski).

Aircraft Carriers: Nuclear Power

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2008,  Official Report, column 255W, on aircraft carriers: nuclear power, what the price of oil was on the date the assessment was made; and what effect the increase in the price of oil since that date has had on the assumptions behind the aircraft carrier programme.

Bob Ainsworth: The average price of Brent Crude during the period of the assessment was approximately $19 per barrel. The assumptions behind the UK's aircraft carrier programme remain sound and we are committed to the manufacture of these vessels, to their conventionally powered design, to meet the stated in-service dates.

Armed Forces: Uniforms

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many more bearskin caps it is possible to make from pelts purchased by his Department prior to 2003.

Bob Ainsworth: MOD has never purchased any bearskin pelts, only completed caps.

Armed Forces: Uniforms

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what materials have been tested as an alternative to real fur for bearskin caps other than that provided by PETA.

Bob Ainsworth: The materials tested as an alternative to real fur for bearskin caps are:
	100 per cent. nylon—single denier and mixed denier monofilaments
	Nylon mixed with mohair; Dynel™ (modacrylic); Rhovyl™ (PVC); single breed wool; two breeds of wool
	100 per cent. Orion™ (acrylic pile)—26 oz and 30 oz
	100 per cent. modacrylic—several versions
	Acrylic/modacrylic blends—15 different samples in various percentage blends and constructions from various companies
	Modacrylic/polyester blend
	100 per cent. polyester—fibre and pile types
	100 per cent. polypropylene
	100 per cent. mohair
	Mohair blended with wool; alpaca (several versions); llama
	Various wools and sheepskins
	Wool blended with hair; viscose
	Unknowns—samples have been received under company trade names with no fibre content given.

Army: Manpower

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) target inflow,  (b) inflow and  (c) outflow for each unit in the (i) infantry, (ii) Royal Corps of Signals, (iii) Royal Logistics Corps, (iv) Royal Engineers and (v) Royal Artillery was in each month since January 2008.

Bob Ainsworth: The information is not held in the format requested.
	Due to ongoing validation of data following the implementation of the new joint personnel administration system, flows information is only available at the Army level and is not yet available broken down to Arm/Service level. Unit level flows for the Army are not routinely published and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Assets

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence over what period his Department depreciates the asset value of its  (a) vehicles,  (b) computer hardware,  (c) bespoke computer software,  (d) standard computer software,  (e) furniture and  (f) telecommunications equipment.

Bob Ainsworth: The Department depreciates its vehicles, computer hardware and telecommunications equipment as shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Category  Years 
			 Transport Specialised vehicles 15-30 
			  Other standard vehicles 3-5 
			 IT and Comms equipment Computer hardware 3-10 
			  Telecommunications equipment 3-30 
		
	
	It is not possible to provide information at a departmental level with regard to a 'standard' period over which computer software is depreciated; however, in determining the appropriate period for this and all other asset categories the Department is consistent with the accounting treatment laid out in the financial reporting manual (FReM).
	Also in accordance with the FReM the Department does not capitalise furniture, therefore costs are immediately expensed to the operating cost statement.

Departmental Public Participation

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what  (a) surveys,  (b) questionnaires and  (c) other services were provided by polling companies for his Department in financial year 2007-08, broken down by company.

Derek Twigg: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	However, records are available of services provided by polling companies which relate primarily to recruitment activities by the armed forces, and polling carried out by our central media and communications division to establish the attitudes of the public to various aspects of defence activity. In financial year 2007-08, the following were completed.
	
		
			  Purpose  Firm employed 
			 Top level reputation tracking of the MOD and armed forces Ipsos MORI 
			 Army reputation tracking Populus 
			 Territorial Army recruitment and retention Cragg Ross Dawson(1) 
			 Website visitor survey assessing views on the Royal Marine website Virtual Surveys(1) 
			 Online surveys and interviews to inform recruiting to the Army Medical Services ICM(1) 
			 (1) Procured through Central Office of Information.

Destroyers

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether destroyers withdrawn from the fleet in the next five years are scheduled to be replaced on a one-for-one basis.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 16 June 2008
	As I said in my reply to the hon. Member on 19 June 2008,  Official Report, column 1099W, we do not intend to increase the current order of six Type 45 destroyers. Therefore, only the first six Type 42 destroyers due to be withdrawn will be replaced by Type 45s.

Lynx Helicopters

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Future Lynx helicopters will be deployed to  (a) the Army,  (b) the Royal Navy and  (c) the Royal Air Force; and from which ships the Navy helicopters will be flown.

Bob Ainsworth: The Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with AgustaWestland for the delivery of 70 Future Lynx helicopters comprising 40 battlefield variant to enter service with the Army, and 30 maritime variant to enter service with the Royal Navy. None are due to be delivered to the Royal Air Force. It is intended that the Future Lynx maritime variant will operate principally from our Type 22 and Type 23 frigates and our Type 45 destroyers, although they will be capable of operating from other vessels as required.

Merlin Helicopters

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  whether the Merlin helicopters acquired from Denmark carry the TCAS collision avoidance system and weather radar; and what maintenance schedule has been established for these systems;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the load capacity of the flooring in the Merlin helicopters acquired from Denmark; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: All six of the helicopters acquired from Denmark, now designated as Merlin MK3a, were delivered fitted with a Terrain collision Avoidance system (TCAS) and whether radar system. These systems are not fitted to our other Merlin MK3 aircraft and therefore no long-term support is planned. We do, however, intend to evaluate the performance of the systems to inform future requirements which, if funded, would include appropriate long-term support arrangements.
	The floor of the MK3a has a slightly different construction to our existing MK3 aircraft, but the uniformly distributed load capacity is the same. The Mk3 is capable of carrying 24 troops with their equipment and the full range of equipment required to be carried by this aircraft on operations.

Merlin Helicopters

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's target is for the proportion of Merlin Mark 1 helicopters to be operational; and what proportion are operational.

Bob Ainsworth: The target forward fleet of Merlin Mk 1 helicopters available to the front line command for training and operations is 30, which represents 71 per cent. of the departmental fleet of 42. The number in the forward fleet as at 17 June 2008 is 23, which represents 55 per cent. of the departmental fleet.

JUSTICE

Administration of Justice: Environment

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many applications for public funding were  (a) submitted and  (b) granted by the Legal Services Commission for environmental cases in each year since 2000.

Maria Eagle: The Legal Services Commission does not record information in such a way as to enable it to identify the number of applications for public funding of cases relating to environmental cases as this is not a distinct category of law under which legal aid is recorded. However, environmental matters may be funded under the legal aid scheme if there is sufficient public interest to do so.

Administration of Justice: Environment

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many protective costs orders were granted by the Supreme Court of England and Wales for environmental cases in each year since 2000.

Bridget Prentice: The information requested is not held centrally and could be compiled only through a manual inspection of historic case records which would be disproportionately costly.

Administration of Justice: Environment

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether the civil procedure rules committee will consult the public on possible amendments to the Civil Procedure Rules in relation to costs and interim remedies to ensure compliance with the provisions of Article 9(4) of the UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: The Civil Procedure Rule Committee consults such persons as (it) considers appropriate under the Civil Procedure Act 3(1)(a). However the Committee's current programme of work does not include consideration of amendments arising from the UNECE convention on access to information.

Departmental Assets

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice over what period his Department depreciates the asset value of its  (a) vehicles,  (b) computer hardware,  (c) bespoke computer software,  (d) standard computer software,  (e) furniture and  (f) telecommunications equipment.

Michael Wills: Departments should depreciate their assets over periods consistent with the accounting standards laid out in the Financial Reporting Manual (FReM). Depreciation rates for assets vary depending upon the user's anticipated life of the asset.
	Following the creation of the MoJ, which brought together entities from two separate Departments, the Department will be reviewing its depreciation rates.
	The core Department, HM Courts Service, the Tribunals Service, and the Office of the Public Guardian depreciate assets over the following periods:
	 (a) Vehicles: three to four years;
	 (b) Computer hardware: seven years;
	 (c) (Developed) computer software: seven years;
	 (d) Standard computer software: not capitalised unless part of the package bought with qualifying capital hardware;
	 (e) Furniture: high-density storage systems 10 years. (Other furniture is only capitalised in exceptional circumstances and is pooled by site—depreciated over 10 years); and
	 (f) Telecommunications equipment: seven years.
	 HMPS
	The Prison Service Agency depreciates assets over the following periods:
	 (a) Vehicles: five to 10 years (cars five years, vans seven years, lorries 10 years);
	 (b) Computer hardware: three years;
	 (c) Bespoke computer software: five to seven years;
	 (d) Standard computer software: five to seven years;
	 (e) Furniture: seven years; and
	 (f) Telecommunications equipment: five years.
	The majority of furniture acquired by HMPS is for staff and inmates and is not capitalised.
	 NOMS
	NOMS depreciates assets over the following periods:
	 (a) Vehicles: five to 10 years (cars five years, vans seven years, lorries 10 years);
	 (b) Computer hardware: three years;
	 (c) Bespoke computer software: seven years;
	 (d) Standard computer software: five years;
	 (e) Furniture: five years; and
	 (f) Telecommunications equipment: five years.
	 OGJR
	OCJR depreciates assets over the following periods:
	 (a) Vehicles: none held;
	 (b) Computer hardware: non-PC five years, PC three years;
	 (c) Bespoke computer software: non-PC five years, PC three years (some exceptions where extended to seven years);
	 (d) Standard computer software: non-PC five years, PC three years;
	 (e) Furniture: none held; and
	 (f) Telecommunications equipment: none held.

Departmental Expert Groups

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what expert groups his Department set up in each year since it was established.

Michael Wills: The Ministry of Justice was established on 9 May 2007. Since that date, the Ministry has established the following expert groups:
	Drug Treatment in Prisons Group (disbanded November 2007)
	Prison Drug Treatment Review Group
	Sentencing Commission Working Group
	Advisory Board on Joint Inspection in the Criminal Justice System
	Reference Panel on Rights and Responsibilities
	Family Courts Information Pilot Advisory Board
	Divorce Forms Reference Group
	Care Proceedings Implementation Steering Group and Training Sub Group
	Advisory Committee on Civil Costs

Departmental Transport

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when each of his Department's and its agencies' green transport plans were introduced; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each such plan.

Michael Wills: Following the creation of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), a high-level transport plan is currently being developed to help reduce the environmental impact of travel.
	Parts of the MoJ have created transport plans and are implementing these within their individual areas.
	The MoJ transport plan is expected to be complete by summer 2008 and a copy will be placed within the Library when complete.

Departmental Vetting

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what procedures his Department follows for checking the criminal records of employees; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Wills: The Ministry of Justice applies the Cabinet Office Baseline Personnel Security Standard for recruitment to the civil service. This includes a check on each individual's identity, employment history, nationality or immigration status and criminal record. More rigorous procedures may additionally be applied depending on the security status of the role or its location.

Departmental Vetting

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what percentage of successful applicants for jobs in his Department are subjected to a criminal records check; how many  (a) successful applicants and  (b) criminal records checks there were in each of the last 10 years; how many successful applicants were found to have a criminal record after a criminal records check took place in each of the last 10 years; whether the selection of successful candidates to be subjected to a criminal records check is random or targeted; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Wills: My Department does not hold this information centrally and it is, therefore, not possible to collate it without incurring disproportionate costs.
	Criminal Records Bureau checks are completed for certain posts dependant on location and role.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what guidance he has issued to electoral registration officers on following up non-responses to the electoral canvas  (a) by post and  (b) via a home visit; what monitoring his Department has undertaken of implementation of this guidance; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: Section 9 of the Electoral Administration Act 2006 placed a new duty on electoral registration officers to take all necessary steps to maintain the electoral register, including sending the annual canvass form more than once and making house visits.
	Responsibility for issuing guidance to electoral registration officers on electoral registration lies with the Electoral Commission and thus my Department has not made any assessment about the level of compliance with guidelines for following up non-responses to the electoral canvass.
	The Act includes a provision for the Electoral Commission to introduce new performance measures for electoral registration officers. The Electoral Commission is currently developing these standards and the final standards will be published in July 2008, a copy of which will be laid before the House. This will give us a better understanding of the actions being taken to increase registration.

Electorate

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what proportion of registered voters there were in each constituency  (a) in the first year after the most recent Boundary Review and  (b) in the most recent period for which figures are available, ranked in descending order of number of electors.

Tom Watson: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 25 June 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your questions asking how many and what proportion of registered voters there were in each constituency (a) in the first year after the most recent Boundary Review and (b) in the most recent period for which figures are available, ranking in descending order of number of electors. (211442).
	Figures for the Parliamentary electorate for each parliamentary constituency for 1997 and 2007 are provided in Tables 1 and 2. Copies of the tables have been placed in the House of Commons Library.
	The Office for National Statistics does not hold data for the population eligible to vote in parliamentary elections, which includes British Citizens resident overseas and excludes foreign citizens (from outside the British Commonwealth and Republic of Ireland) resident within the England and Wales. It is not therefore possible to provide the proportions requested.

Islam

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make it his policy to record the number of cases brought before the courts in England and Wales for crimes committed against persons arising from their having left the Islamic faith.

Maria Eagle: We do not have any plans to introduce a data collection to provide the information requested since the cost would be disproportionate. The courts always take mitigating and aggravating circumstances into account when sentencing an offender. This can include circumstances relating to faith or change of faith, if they are relevant to the offence. However, aggravating or mitigating factors are not collated as part of our data collection. As these factors cover an enormous range and variety of circumstances, to do so would be complex and extremely resource intensive.

PRIME MINISTER

Departmental Public Expenditure

David Simpson: To ask the Prime Minister how much was spent on  (a) new furnishings,  (b) art and  (c) new vehicles by his Office in each of the last three years.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Watson) today.

Departmental Television

Francis Maude: To ask the Prime Minister to what premium Sky, digital terrestrial or cable television channels Downing street subscribes; and at what annual cost in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Gordon Brown: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Phil Hope) on 24 June 2008,  Official Report, column 238W.

Post Offices: Closures

Bob Spink: To ask the Prime Minister if he will visit post offices in Castle Point to discuss the Government's policy on closures; and if he will make a statement.

Gordon Brown: I have no current plans to do so.

Wood

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  how much timber and timber products were procured by his Office in each of the last five years; and at what cost;
	(2)  how much timber and timber products were procured by his Office originating from independently verified legal and sustainable sources or from a licensed FLEGT partner in each of the last five years; and at what cost.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Phil Hope) today.

WALES

Departmental Pay

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many and what proportion of staff in his Department received bonus payments in each of the last five years; what the total amount of bonuses paid has been; what the largest single payment was in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Murphy: The Wales Office has only made bonus payments in the last two financial years.
	In 2006-07, three members of staff received bonuses, representing five per cent. of the workforce. All of the bonuses together came to £862.30 before tax, and the largest single payment was £362.30.
	In 2007-08, four members of staff received bonuses, representing seven per cent. of the workforce. All of the bonuses together came to £1,250.00 before tax, and the largest single payment was £350.00

Departmental Sick Leave

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the average number of days taken as sick leave in his Department was in each of the last five years for which information is available; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Murphy: Figures for the level of sickness absence at the Wales Office are available for each financial year since April 2004.
	The average number of days of sickness absence is as follows:
	
		
			   Days 
			 2004-05 4.59 
			 2005-06 3.36 
			 2006-07 5.18 
			 2007-08 (1)9.27 
			 (1 )Average is skewed by isolated incidents of long term sickness absence.

Departmental Vetting

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of successful applicants for jobs in his Department are subjected to a criminal records check; how many  (a) successful applicants and  (b) criminal records checks there were in each of the last 10 years; how many successful applicants were found to have a criminal record after a criminal records check took place in each of the last 10 years; whether the selection of successful candidates to be subjected to a criminal records check is random or targeted; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Murphy: The Wales Office was created in 1999. It only recruits existing civil servants and does not conduct criminal records checks itself.
	All staff are required to have Counter Terrorism Clearance (and in some cases Developed Vetting). This includes disclosure of all criminal convictions (spent and unspent).
	Some staff have active clearance when they join us. Others are cleared on appointment. This is undertaken by the Ministry of Justice, and details of criminal records checked are not disclosed to us.
	Providing numbers appointed and number of clearances requested over the past nine years could be achieved only at disproportionate cost.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Advertising: Broadcasting

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how many minutes of advertising were broadcast per hour of commercial television programming in each year since 1979;
	(2)  how many minutes of advertising were broadcast per hour of children's television programming in  (a) the last period for which figures are available and  (b) each year since 1979.

Andy Burnham: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	EU Directives currently impose a maximum limit of 12 minutes of advertising per hour on television. This is also subject to an EU maximum average of nine minutes per hour. Within this European framework, the rules set by Ofcom impose further limits on public service channels which are subject to an overall maximum average of seven minutes per hour, and a specific average of eight minutes per hour between 6pm and 11pm. These restrictions are set out in Ofcom's rules on the amount and distribution of advertising. The limits do not include the amount of time that channels may use for promoting their programmes. Nor do they include 'teleshopping windows', which involve direct offers to viewers to purchase goods and services, for example by placing an order by telephone or e-mail. Ofcom requires broadcasters to comply with these rules, and receives independently-sourced data on many channels, including the public service channels.
	Under the new Audio Visual Media Services Directive, the European framework for advertising regulation has been revised and Ofcom recently consulted on whether to make changes to the UK rules. Ofcom aims to announce its decision later this year.

Departmental Buildings

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how frequently his Department restates the asset values of its building estate.

Gerry Sutcliffe: For DCMS as an entity, freehold land is restated to current value every five years using professional valuations in accordance with FRS 15. The freehold land was last valued professionally as at 31 March 2006. Assets have not been restated using appropriate indices because the modified historic costs are not materially different to the historic costs, therefore the historic costs have been shown in the balance sheet.
	The Royal Parks properties are revalued as part of a five year rolling programme, using a methodology in line with the Government financial reporting manual (FreM). From 1 April 2007 The Royal Parks changed its policy on Government index revaluations. The Royal Parks considers that these revaluations do not have a material effect and as allowed under FRS15 has discontinued Government index revaluations for assets that are not physically revalued. These assets are shown at their 31 March 2007 current cost less depreciation.

Departmental Manpower

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many jobs his Department expects to relocate under the policy of civil service job dispersal.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Although the DCMS has no plans to relocate posts, over 950 posts from our sponsored bodies are planned to relocate by 2010. This exceeds by over 50 per cent. the Department's agreed target of 600 relocated posts. To date, 661 posts from DCMS sponsored bodies have relocated already.

Digital Broadcasting

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made on digital switchover; and if he will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: Overall, switchover in Copeland was successful, although we do realise that there are lessons to be learned.
	This experience will help with work being done in the area surrounding the Selkirk transmitter which is the next place scheduled for switchover. Progress here is good: 99 per cent.(1) of households are aware of switchover (compared with 90 per cent.(1) nationally) and 82 per cent.(1) have digital television services already. Digital UK are continuing to work in the area, building on their communications work and the Digital Switchover Help Scheme (DSHS) has started to operate in the region.
	(1) Ofcom/DUK DSO Tracker—Q1 2008

Digital Broadcasting

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent assessment he has made of progress in digital switchover.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 23 June 2008
	Overall, switchover in Copeland was successful, although we do realise that there are lessons to be learned.
	This experience will help with work being done in the area surrounding the Selkirk transmitter which is the next place scheduled for switchover. Progress here is good.
	99 per cent.(1) of households are aware of switchover (compared with 90 per cent(1) nationally) and 82 per cent.(1) have digital television services already. Digital UK are continuing to work in the area, building on their communications work and the Digital Switchover Help scheme (DSHS) has started to operate in the region.
	(1 )Ofcom/DUK DSO Tracker—Q1 2008

Libraries: Construction

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many public libraries have been built in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) England in each year since 1997.

Margaret Hodge: Information is not held centrally on the number of public libraries which have been built in Jarrow, South Tyneside, the North-East or England in each year since 1997.
	Public Library Statistics, an annual publication produced by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, provides information on the total number of libraries in South Tyneside, the North-East and England, but it does not publish information on the number of libraries in the parliamentary constituency of Jarrow. Copies of Public Library Statistics are available in the Library of the House.

Olympics 2012: Big Lottery Fund

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding from the Big Lottery Fund will be allocated to the 2012 London Olympics.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Approximately £638.1 million held in the National Lottery Distribution Fund on the Big Lottery Fund's behalf will form part of the £1,085 million to be transferred to the Olympic Lottery Distribution Fund between the first quarter of the current financial year (2008-09) and the second quarter of 2012-13.

Wood

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much timber and timber products were procured by his Department in each of the last five years; and at what cost.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department does not hold management information on procurement of timber and timber products.

Wood

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much timber and timber products were procured by his Department originating from independently verified legal and sustainable sources or from a licensed FLEGT partner in each of the last five years; and at what cost.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department does not hold management information on the procurement of timber and timber products. However it is the Department's policy to procure verifiable legal timber where possible.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Higher Education

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what account the Higher Education Funding Council for England will take of areas of rapid population expansion in considering the location of 20 new universities.

Bill Rammell: We want to give everyone who has the talent the chance to go to university whether they are about to leave school or already in work. Students should have access to local provision offering flexible courses to suit their needs. We are therefore delighted by the interest that our new university challenge has generated. Any proposals for new university campuses or centres of HE will be assessed by the Higher Education Funding Council for England against the broad criteria we published in our new "University Challenge" criteria published in March which include "underpinning population growth strategies" as part of unlocking the potential of towns and people. HEFCE plan to publish a consultation document shortly.

Higher Education: North West

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many residents of  (a) Chorley constituency,  (b) Lancashire and  (c) the North West entered higher education in each of the last 10 years.

Bill Rammell: The latest available information is shown in the table. Comparable figures for the 2007/08 academic year will be available in January 2009.
	
		
			  Entrants( 1)  to undergraduate courses from Chorley parliamentary constituency, Lancashire local authority and the North West Government office region—UK higher education institutions—academic years 1997/98 to 2006/07 
			  Academic year  Chorley  Lancashire  North West( 2) 
			 1997/98(3) 895 9,220 47,570 
			 1998/99 1,010 10,350 44,795 
			 1999/2000 1,115 11,060 44,820 
			 2000/01 970 10,010 43,720 
			 2001/02 1,145 11,605 48,020 
			 2002/03 1,205 12,980 63,145 
			 2003/04 1,045 12,510 68,525 
			 2004/05(4) 1,150 13,290 69,455 
			 2005/06 1,115 12,385 70,895 
			 2006/07 1,050 11,950 65,800 
			 (1) Figures are on a snapshot basis as at 1 December to maintain a consistent time series across all years and are rounded to the nearest five. Figures include the Open University but exclude those on writing up, sabbatical or dormant mode of study. Figures cover entrants to both full-time and part-time undergraduate courses. (2) Inconsistencies between figures in the time series for the North West Government office region are due to the inclusion/exclusion of Merseyside. In 1997/98, Merseyside was included in the North West. From 1998/99 to 2001/02, Merseyside was administratively classified as a separate region. From 2002/03 onwards, Merseyside was again included in the North West. Figures across the time series are not on a consistent basis, and as such, are not comparable. (3) Figures for 1997/98 exclude the Open University because there are no figures available for entrants to undergraduate courses at the Open University by local authority for this year. (4) As a consequence of a problem identified with data submitted by the Open University (OU) in the 2004/05 academic year, a number of students were not returned as entrants although included in the total enrolments figure. However as a result, the increase in entrants between 2004/05 and 2005/06 appears greater than in reality, particularly in respect of undergraduate entrants.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Innovation: Business

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what recent steps the Government has taken to increase the use of innovation in business.

Ian Pearson: We recently published our White Paper, Innovation Nation, that included a number of measures aimed at increasing the level of innovation within business. These included:
	Increased support for business innovation through the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) by bringing forward five new Innovation Platforms over the next three years and doubling the number of Knowledge Transfer Partnerships;
	Plans to reform the Small Business Research initiative;
	Provision of an innovation voucher to at least 1,000 businesses per year by 2010-11 to enable them to collaborate with a knowledge base institution with an overall aim to help those firms boost their innovation and profits; and
	Plans to pilot a revenue-based FE Specialisation and Innovation Fund to build the capacity of the FE Sector to support businesses to raise their innovation potential.
	In addition, we have also published a Higher Level Skills Strategy to provide an overall framework for driving up the higher level skills that contribute to innovation in business.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Departmental Trade Unions

Bob Spink: To ask the Solicitor-General which trades unions represent members of staff in  (a) the Attorney-General's office and  (b) its agency.

Vera Baird: The trade unions which represent staff at the Attorney-General's Office and its agencies are the First Division Association (FDA) and Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS). The staff of the Serious Fraud Office are also represented by Prospect.

Genetics: Data Protection

Michael Meacher: To ask the Solicitor-General pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 21 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 28-30WS, on DNA profiles: disk inquiry, what disciplinary action has been taken against staff; against whom it has been taken; and what other management action and internal procedural changes have been put in place to prevent a similar occurrence in the future.

Vera Baird: Following the inquiry by Peter Lewis, chief executive of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) into the handling of the Dutch DNA disk, disciplinary proceedings have been instigated against one member of staff but have not yet concluded. It is not appropriate to name the individual concerned.
	Immediate measures were put in place within the relevant part of the Crown Prosecution Service headquarters (CPS HQ) to ensure that all incoming post is dealt with securely, and acted on both expeditiously and appropriately.
	The wider recommendations about the handling of such mutual exchange arrangements in future are being taken forward by the National Policing Improvement Agency. They should ensure that in future the appropriate recipients, not the CPS, receive and are properly notified of the transmission of such data.
	The chief executive has also commissioned a wider review to look at operating processes and working practices across the whole of CPS HQ to identify areas where further improvements can be made.

Prosecutions: Foreigners

Andrew Love: To ask the Solicitor-General what discussions she has had with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) on the case against Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan, commonly known as Colonel Karuna, a Sri Lankan citizen; if she will request the CPS to review the decision not to prosecute in this case; and if she will make a statement.

Vera Baird: I have not had any discussions about this case with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). A file of evidence relating to a serious allegation was submitted to the CPS for advice and the case was reviewed in accordance with the code for Crown prosecutors. The reviewing Crown prosecutor advised the police that there was not a realistic prospect of a conviction against Colonel Karuna for any criminal offence based on the evidence that was submitted.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Carers' Allowances: Cleethorpes

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Cleethorpes constituency are in receipt of the carer's allowance.

Anne McGuire: As at November 2007, 870 people in Cleethorpes constituency were in receipt of the carer's allowance.

Child Support Agency: Telephone Services

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has estimated  (a) the average length of telephone calls to the Child Support Agency and  (b) the average length of time callers are kept in a queue before their calls are answered.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is the matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 25 June 2008:
	In reply to your recent parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has estimated  (a) the average length of telephone calls to the Child Support Agency and  (b) the average length of time callers are kept in a queue before their calls are answered.
	The Agency has shown significant and sustained improvement in client service under its Operational Improvement Plan. In the year ending March 2008, the Agency received 5,369,000 calls from clients and answered 98 per cent. of calls available to be answered, with an average waiting time of just twenty seconds. The average length of telephone call to the Agency over this period was three minutes 25 seconds.
	In contrast, in the year to March 2005, the Agency answered only 84 per cent. of calls and the average waiting time was one minute 40 seconds.
	Information on telephony performance is routinely published in Table 16 of the Child Support Agency's Quarterly Summary of Statistics, the latest copy of which can be found in the House of Commons Library or online:
	www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/child_support/csa_quarterly_mar08.asp
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Children: Maintenance

Don Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many outstanding cases the Child Support Agency has in Wales.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is the matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the right hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 25 June 2008:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many outstanding cases the Child Support Agency has in Wales.
	The information requested is routinely published in Supplementary Table 2a of the Child Support Agency's Quarterly Summary of Statistics (QSS), the latest copy of which is available in the House of Commons library or online at:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/child_support/csa_quarterly_mar08.asp.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Departmental Accountancy

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's  (a) chart of accounts and  (b) resource account codes and usage descriptions for the 2008-09 financial year.

Anne McGuire: The information requested is not readily available and can only be obtained at disproportionate costs.
	Since the introduction of its resource management system in 2005, the Department does not routinely publish its chart of accounts as the information is managed and controlled within the system.
	The chart of accounts for 2008-09 reflects the Department's structure for the year and will not necessarily reflect the 2007-08 structure, or that for future years. The chart shows the relationship between parent codes (used for preparing resource accounts) and children codes (used for more detailed management purposes). Each code has a brief description that describes its use.

Departmental Manpower

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of his Department's employees are  (a) male,  (b) female,  (c) from an ethnic minority,  (d) disabled and  (e) not heterosexual; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: The following table sets out the number and proportion of male, female, ethnic minority and disabled staff employed by the Department for Work and Pensions at March 2008. We are unable to provide the information on non-heterosexual staff as the Department only started monitoring this equality strand in April 2008 and we have not yet built up any meaningful data.
	
		
			   Number  Percentage 
			 Male 35,423 31.2 
			 Female 77,971 68.8 
			 Ethnic minority 9,840 10.1 
			 Disabled 5,982 5.5 
			 Not heterosexual (1)— (1)— 
			 (1) Not known 
		
	
	Declaration of ethnicity and disabled status is voluntary. The proportions given are based on those individuals who have declared their status.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the special advisers employed in his Department since 6 May 1997; and what the  (a) start and  (b) end date of employment was in each case.

Anne McGuire: Since 2003, the Government have published on an annual basis the names and numbers of special advisers in each pay band. For the most recent information I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister on 22 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 147-50WS.
	Information on the employment of special advisers prior to 2003 was provided at regular intervals and is available in the Library of the House.

Departmental Paper

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department and its executive agencies spent on paper supplies in each of the last five years.

Anne McGuire: The information that is available is provided in the following table.
	
		
			  £ million 
			  Type of product  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Core print (forms and leaflets) 24.0 21.9 18.3 25.1 22.1 
			 Configurable print (letterheads, compliment slips and posters) 1.45 1.76 0.886 0.98 0.913 
			 Secure print (girocheques and payable orders) 7.14 7.18 3.08 3.1 3.04 
			 Cut paper (photocopier and printer paper etc) n/a n/a n/a 3.5 3.5 
			 Totals 32.59 30.84 22.266 32.68 29.553 
			 n/a — not available. 
		
	
	Expenditure figures on core, configurable and secure print include the cost of printing, storing and distributing the products and cannot be separately identified. Expenditure figures on cut paper for the years 2003-04 to 2005-06 are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	To reduce environmental impact, wherever technically possible, DWP uses recycled paper as standard and closely manages stocks to avoid wastage.

Departmental Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was paid in end-of-year performance bonuses to  (a) all staff and  (b) staff at senior civil service level in (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies in the 2007-08 financial year; and how many payments were made.

Anne McGuire: DWP employees in pay bands below the senior civil service are eligible for an annual individual performance bonus if they attain a 'Top', 'Higher' or 'Majority' rating under the annual performance and development system. The amount of bonus awarded is differentiated on the basis of the employee's pay band and the performance level achieved.
	For the senior civil service end of year bonuses were determined on an individual basis by the relevant Pay Committee.
	A total of £36.61 million was paid in performance bonuses in the 2007-08 financial year broken down in the following tables:
	
		
			  Table 1: Department total 
			  Financial year  Total paid (£ million)  Total number of recipients 
			 2007-08(1) 36.61 113,425 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Agency/business totals below SCS 
			  Agency/business  Total paid (£ million)  Number of recipients 
			 Child Support Agency 3.66 11,865 
			 Corporate Centre 3.14 10,202 
			 Disability and Carers Service 1.99 6,469 
			 Jobcentre Plus 22.24 72,185 
			 The Pensions Service 3.85 12,502 
			 Total 34.88 113,223 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: DWP SCS 
			  Financial year  Total paid (£ million)  Number of recipients 
			 2007-08(1) 1.73 202 
			 (1) Performance awards from the year 2006/07 are paid in the financial year 2007-08.

Departmental Pay

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of employees in his Department who received a performance-related bonus at their last appraisal were  (a) male,  (b) female,  (c) from an ethnic minority, disabled and  (e) not heterosexual; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: The Department's Performance and Development system is designed to help manage performance throughout the reporting year. Bonus payments are linked to an end of year assessment and paid to those who achieve a 'majority', 'higher' or 'top' marking in their appraisal. To attain these markings employees are expected to meet or exceed all of their performance objectives. The latest period for which information is available is for the 12 months ending March 2007.
	A distribution by gender, ethnicity and disability of all 111,943 staff who received a performance bonus for the year ended 31 March 2007 is in the following table. Information about the percentage numbers of the different individual groups in relation to overall employees is also included.
	
		
			  Group  Number receiving performance bonus  Percentage of performance bonus recipients (percentage) 
			 Female 77,847 69.5 
			 Male 34,096 30.5 
			
			 Ethnic minority 9,392 8.4 
			 Ethnic majority 87,729 78.4 
			 Not declared/recorded(1) 14,822 13.2 
			
			 Disabled 6,049 5.4 
			 Not disabled 101,765 90.9 
			 Not declared/recorded(1) 4,129 3.7 
			 (1) Declaration of ethnicity and disability is voluntarily recorded on the Department's personnel system. 
		
	
	For the 2006-07 performance year to which these figures relate we did not gather data on sexuality.

Departmental Trade Unions

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which trades unions represent members of staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies.

Anne McGuire: The Department for Work and Pensions and its agencies recognise three trade unions as representing members of staff; the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), FDA and Prospect.

Employment and Support Allowance

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of how much a single recipient under the age of 35 years, who would have received an adult dependent addition under incapacity benefit, would receive in employment and support allowance each week if they were in receipt of the support component of contributory employment and support allowance, assuming the rates as set out in the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2008 come into force in October 2008;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of how much a couple, both under the age of 35 years, who are eligible for the support component of the contributory employment and support allowance, would receive each week, assuming the rates as set out in the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2008 come into force in October 2008;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of how much a single recipient under the age of 35 years, who is eligible for the support component of the contributory employment and support allowance, would receive each week, assuming the rates as set out in the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2008 come into force in October 2008.

Stephen Timms: Employment and support allowance has a completely different structure to incapacity benefit. Contributory employment and support allowance is not payable in respect of couples. The employment and support regulations provide that single people in the support group will receive a rate of contributory benefit of £89.50 a week. If the claimant is single and has low or no other income they would receive an income-related top up taking their benefit of £102.10 a week, through the proposed passport to the enhanced disability premium.
	If a contributory claimant has a partner and has low or no other income, they can also receive an income-related top up; including an automatic passport to the enhanced disability premium, guaranteeing couples where the claimant only is claiming employment and support allowance and is in the support group a minimum income of £142.10 a week. If both members of a couple are entitled to contributory employment and support allowance and in the support group, they would each receive £89.50 a week, making a total of £179 a week.

Incapacity Benefit: Lincolnshire

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest estimate is of the number of people receiving incapacity benefit in  (a) Cleethorpes constituency,  (b) Great Grimsby constituency,  (c) North East Lincolnshire and  (d) North Lincolnshire.

Anne McGuire: The available information is in the table.
	
		
			   Number of incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance claimants: November 2007 
			 Cleethorpes parliamentary constituency 3,440 
			 Great Grimsby parliamentary constituency 4,650 
			 North East Lincolnshire local authority 7,220 
			 North Lincolnshire local authority 6,650 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Figures are also published on the NOMIS website at www.nomisweb.co.uk  Source: DWP Information Directorate 100 per cent. WPLS

Lorries: Driving Instruction

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what financial help is made available by his Department for unemployed people who wish to undertake HGV training.

Stephen Timms: Support for work-focused training can depend both on locality and a customer's individual circumstances. Jobcentre Plus makes every effort to offer a flexible system of job seeking that is responsive to both the needs of the individual and the needs of the local labour market.
	Employment training funded by the Department is generally limited to new deal programmes. The courses available are decided by each Jobcentre Plus district and will be not be the same around the country. Training allowances are payable to job seekers participating in full-time training in the options stage of new deal for young people or the intensive activity period stage of new deal 25 plus.
	For Jobcentre Plus customers who are not eligible for the new deal, or in districts where Heavy Goods Vehicle training is not supported, Career Development Loans are available to help people overcome financial barriers to training.
	Under the flexible new deal, which will replace existing provision for jobseeker's allowance customers from next year, providers will be free to offer any support they deem appropriate for a customer if they decide it would help the customer enter and sustain employment.

Post Office Card Account

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to announce who will administer the successor product to the Post Office Card Account.

James Plaskitt: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine (Sir Robert Smith) on 12 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 428-29W.

Sick Leave: Mentally Ill

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people took leave from work due to mental illness in each of the last five years, broken down by  (a) sex and  (b) type of illness.

Ivan Lewis: I have been asked to reply.
	Information is not collected centrally about diagnoses for any condition in primary care, so reliable data are not available about the number of people who took leave from work due to mental illness.

Social Security Benefits: Elderly

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to answer Question 195735, on pensioners eligible for means-tested benefits, tabled by the hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey on 17 March 2008.

Mike O'Brien: I replied to the hon. Member on 16 June 2008,  Official Report, column 739W

Social Security Benefits: EU Action

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the effect of the European Court of Justice ruling C299/05, on special non-contributory benefits.

Anne McGuire: As a result of the European Court of Justice decision C299/05, the special non-contributory benefits disability living allowance (care component), attendance allowance and carer's allowance were classified as sickness benefits under European law. I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement I made on 3 April 2008,  Official Report, columns 83-84WS.

Welsh Language

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has made of the level of demand for the services provided by  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies and non-departmental bodies to be provided in the Welsh language; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: My Department has adopted a Welsh language scheme approved by the Welsh Language Board on 13 July 2004 and is committed to treating the Welsh and English languages on a basis of equality when providing a service to the public in Wales. The scheme covers both the main departmental businesses and all sponsored bodies that do not have separate schemes of their own. The main DWP Scheme is currently being formally reviewed at the request of the Welsh Language Board.
	My officials regularly and continuously monitor the use made of the Welsh language services we provide for the public in Wales. They also ensure that suitable Welsh language provision is built in to all new services and benefits being developed by the Department. In addition, each year officials in the main customer-facing businesses in Wales carry out voluntary staff audits to confirm that there are sufficient members of staff who are able to conduct business in Welsh.
	The Welsh Language Board is satisfied that my Department is fully meeting the commitments set out in the scheme.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Departmental Furniture

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many  (a) chairs,  (b) desks and  (c) other office furnishings have been purchased by his Department and its agencies in each of the last five years; and at what cost in each case.

Gareth Thomas: This Department's published "Annual Report and Accounts" contains information on its tangible fixed assets, which includes an additions category entitled "furniture, fixtures and fittings".
	These accounts can be found on the BERR website at the following address:
	www.berr.gov.uk.
	The following years accounts are on the website:
	DTI Annual Report and Accounts 2006-07 (HC 584)—Chapter 5—Note 14
	DTI Annual Report and Accounts 2005-06 (HC 1461)—Note 14
	DTI Annual Report and Accounts 2004-05 (HC 612)—Note 13
	DTI Annual Report and Accounts 2003-04 (HC 26)—Note 14
	The 2007-08 Annual Report is due to be published in Mid-July 2008
	I have approached the Chief Executives of the Insolvency Service and Companies House and they will respond to you directly.
	 Letter from Stephen Speed, dated 23 June 2008:
	The Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform has asked me to reply to you directly on behalf of the Insolvency Services in respect of your question (2007/3018) how many (a) chairs, (b) desks and (c) other office furnishings have been purchased by his Department and its agencies in each of the last five years; and at what cost in each case.
	Please see table below for the figures of the last five years 2003-2007.
	
		
			   Desks  Chairs  Others (storage) 
			   Numbers  £  Numbers  £  Numbers  £ 
			 2003 316 76,100 181 37,700 334 88,600 
			 2004 334 170,700 508 81,600 136 40,400 
			 2005 471 233,800 711 141,300 462 113,700 
			 2006 589 226,600 510 107,600 454 126,600 
			 2007 578 230,900 727 199,600 216 60,900 
		
	
	 Letter from Gareth Jones, dated 23 June 2008:
	I am responding on behalf of Companies House to your recently tabled Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.
	Companies House has purchased chairs, desks and other office furnishings in each of the last five years as follows:
	
		
			   Chairs  Desks  Other furnishings 
			  Financial year  Number  Cost (£)  Number  Cost (£)  Cost (£) 
			 2003-04 116 11,503 218 37,703 81,549 
			 2004-05 502 56,569 416 90,506 401,686 
			 2005-06 141 12,000 62 13,488 58,511 
			 2006-07 24 1,997 0 0 35,409 
			 2007-08 75 6,257 21 4,422 30,875 
		
	
	Other furnishings include costs for cupboards, filing cabinets, storage units, desk pedestals and meeting tables. Numbers are not available.

Morning Star

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many copies of the  Morning Star publication his Department and each of its agencies procures each week; and at what cost.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform has only one subscription for the  Morning Star: this is ordered by the Employment Relations policy team. The cover price is 60p and the subscription merits a 15 per cent. discount.
	I have approached the chief executives of the Insolvency Service and Companies House and they will respond to you directly.
	 Letter from Stephen Speed, dated 23 June 2008:
	The Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform has asked me to reply to you directly on behalf of The Insolvency Service in respect of your question (2007/2953) how many copies of the Morning Star publication his Department and its agency subscribes to each week; and at what cost.
	The Insolvency Service Executive Agency of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform had no subscriptions to The Morning Star publication in the last 5 years.
	 Letter from Tim Moss, dated 23 June 2008:
	I am responding on behalf of Companies House to your recently tabled Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform,
	Companies House does not subscribe to the Morning Star publication.

Post Office Card Account

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of post offices that are likely to close if the contract for the successor product to the Post Office Card Account does not go to Post Office Ltd.;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the cost to Post Office Ltd. of not securing the contract for the successor product to the Post Office card account.

Patrick McFadden: The Department for Work and Pensions is currently managing a competitive tender process for the successor product to the Post Office Card Account and an announcement is expected later in the year. A number of bids are being considered, including one submitted by Post Office Ltd. In advance of the procurement decision being announced, it would not be appropriate for the Government to speculate on the consequences of any individual bidder failing to secure the contract.
	The Government remains committed to allowing people to access their pension and benefit in cash at the post office if they choose to do so, and there are around 25 accounts which make that possible still generating income for Post Office Ltd. and sub-postmasters.

Post Offices: Closures

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what environmental impact assessment has been made of the proposed closure of Hinton St George post office in Somerset; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd (POL). I have therefore asked Alan Cook, managing director of POL, to reply direct to the hon. Member.
	Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Post Offices: Closures

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the public transport connections to other post offices in the area around Hinton St George post office, Somerset; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd (POL). I have therefore asked Alan Cook, managing director of POL, to reply direct to the hon. Member.
	Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Post Offices: Closures

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what effect on annual costs is forecast to arise from the proposed closure of the post office at  (a) 173 Church Road, Thundersley and  (b) Daverrell Road, Canvey Island.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 19 June 2008
	 This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. (POL). I have therefore asked Alan Cook, Managing Director of POL, to reply direct to the hon. Member. Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Post Offices: Closures

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what proportion of post offices proposed for closure in a proposed local area plan have been kept open following the local public consultation; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 19 June 2008
	 This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. (POL). I have therefore asked Alan Cook, Managing Director of POL, to reply direct to the hon. Member.
	Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Post Offices: Closures

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the estimated final number of post office closures is.

Patrick McFadden: Government funding will support strategic changes to the post office network with up to 2,500 compensated closures nationally within a framework of minimum access criteria. These closures are being offset by the introduction of 500 new outreach services.

Post Offices: Closures

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many post offices considered for closure will not be closed; and how many of these have been substituted with another post office to be closed.

Patrick McFadden: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. (POL). I have therefore asked Alan Cook, Managing Director of POL, to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Post Offices: Leeds

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what annual cash savings the Post Office expects to make from the closure of post offices in  (a) Leeds West constituency and  (b) Leeds Metropolitan District.

Patrick McFadden: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. (POL). I have therefore asked Alan Cook, Managing Director, of POL to reply direct to my right hon. Friend.
	Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Regional Planning and Development: Electronic Government

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform who is responsible for funding the  (a) e-government regional partnerships and  (b) regional equality and diversity partnerships.

Patrick McFadden: The regional e-government partnerships were self-organised with the help of £300,000 each up to March 2006 of seed-corn funding from ODPM as part of the Local e-Government Programme, and supported by regional LGA groups. Since March 2006 they have been self-funded within each region by public and private members via a subscription- and events-based model.
	The regional equality and diversity partnerships have been formed in a number of regions and are funded by a range of organisations, both public (including regional development agencies, regional assemblies, local authorities and the Big Lottery Fund) and private (including business, trade associations and trade unions).

Tourism: Regional Development Agencies

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much the regional development agencies spent on tourism in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: The following figures refer to spending by RDAs on core tourism and leisure objectives. RDAs have also spent money on activities related to tourism initiatives such as general marketing of a region; specific regeneration projects; or human resource development. The cost of these related activities are not included in the table.
	
		
			  Expenditure on tourism 
			  £ million 
			  RDAs  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 AWM(1) 0 2.2 2.3 3.8 3.3 
			 EEDA(2) 0.6 0.6 0.8 1.5 1.8 
			 EMDA 1.9 3 4.5 5.3 4.7 
			 LDA(3) 13.3 23.7 23.8 23.9 29.4 
			 NWDA 2.7 4 5 6.1 8.9 
			 ONE(4) 0.75 3.3 7.1 10.8 10.6 
			 SEEDA 1.2 1.8 2.4 2.2 2.2 
			 SWRDA 0.8 1.5 3 3.2 2.6 
			 YF 0.6 1.7 2.2 3.9 6 
			 (1) AWM had no specific budget for tourism in 2003-04 over and above AWM's marketing activities for general inward investment into the region. (2) EEDA's business model for tourism changed significantly over the this three-year period, resulting in the increased level of investment for 2006-07. (3) LDA figures include core funding to Visit London. London is recognised by the UK tourism industry as supporting the success of other UK destinations through its gateway role and Visit London plays an important delivery role in promoting London as a gateway to the rest of the UK. (4) ONE took over the delivery of tourism in 2004-05, which is delivered from within the agency.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Acceptable Behaviour Contracts: Cleethorpes

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) acceptable behaviour contracts and  (b) antisocial behaviour orders were issued in Cleethorpes constituency in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: Data on acceptable behaviour contracts (ABCs) are not collected by the Home Office as they are voluntary agreements and therefore not suitable for central data collection. However, surveys carried out by the Home Office of the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs) indicated that over 280 ABCs have been made in Lincolnshire since October 2003.
	Information on the number of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) issued is not collected centrally at parliamentary constituency area level. The number of ASBOs issued in the Lincolnshire Criminal Justice System (CJS) area from January 2002 to December 2006 (latest available) is shown in the following table. CJS areas are coterminous with police force areas.
	
		
			  Number of antisocial behaviour orders ISSUED at all courts in the Lincolnshire Criminal Justice System (CJS) area, as reported to the Home Office by the Court Service, 2002-06 
			   Lincolnshire 
			 2002 2 
			 2003 7 
			 2004 12 
			 2005 20 
			 2006 17 
			 Total 58 
			  Note: Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Prepared by CJEAU, Ministry of Justice.

Crime

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people aged  (a) under 10,  (b) 10 to 17,  (c) 18 to 20 and  (d) 21 years and over were (i) arrested, (ii) charged and (iii) convicted for (A) violent and (B) non-violent offences in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: The number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for violent and non-violent offences in England and Wales, broken down by age group for the years 2002 to 2006 is shown in the following table.
	Charging data are not held by the Ministry of Justice. Information on numbers proceeded against has been provided in lieu of charging data.
	The court proceedings database held by the Ministry of Justice holds information on convictions and prosecutions data for persons aged under 10 who are under the age of liability.
	These data are on the principal offence basis: the figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the offence selected is the one for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	Court proceedings data for 2007 will be available in the autumn of 2008.
	The available information held by the Ministry of Justice on number of persons arrested is given in the other table from 2001-02 to 2005-06 (latest available). There is no link from these centrally reported data to any subsequent outcome.
	
		
			  Number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts, and found guilty at all courts for offences relating to violent, and non-violent offences in England and Wales, by age group, 2002 to 2006( 1, 2, 3) 
			   Proceeded against  Found guilty 
			  Age group  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			  10-17   
			 Violent offences 20,218 18,618 18,217 18,123 18,457 10,235 9,668 10,457 11,061 11,713 
			 Non-violent offences 126,350 122,172 118,445 113,608 107,732 84,311 82,873 85,733 85,096 81,976 
			
			  18-20   
			 Violent offences 16,161 15,798 14,604 14,433 14,653 8,429 8,129 8,520 8,821 9,449 
			 Non-violent offences 204,813 205,968 191,682 174,739 165,256 151,361 154,359 148,231 137,806 133,612 
			
			  21 and over   
			 Violent offences 66,813 68,049 60,914 57,853 53,953 31,139 31,897 32,438 32,938 33,708 
			 Non-violent offences 1,477,315 1,556,205 1,603,373 1,502,837 1,408,127 1,126,727 1,194,295 1,252,609 1,199,530 1,143,315 
			
			  All ages   
			 Violent offences 103,192 102,465 93,735 90,409 87,063 49,803 49,694 51,415 52,820 54,870 
			 Non-violent offences 1,808,478 1,884,345 1,913,500 1,791,184 1,681,115 1,362,399 1,431,527 1,486,573 1,422,432 1,358,903 
			 (1) Data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Data includes the following offence types:  Violent offences: Violence against the person Sexual Offences Robbery  Non-violent offences: Burglary Theft and handling stolen goods Fraud and forgery Criminal damage Drug offences Other indictable offences Indictable motoring offences Summary offences (excluding motoring) Summary motoring offences. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, other agencies and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Sources: Court proceedings data held by CJEAU Office for Criminal Justice Reform Ministry of Justice 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of persons arrested for recorded crime (notifiable offences) by age group and type of offence( 1) , 2001-02 to 2005-06, England and Wales 
			  Rounded 
			  Notifiable offence group  Aged under 10  Aged 10-17  Aged 18-20  Aged 21 and over  Age unknown  All ages 
			  2001-02   
			 Violent offences 100 70,500 47,900 201,400 900 320,500 
			 Other offences 400 243,800 160,300 544,200 2,500 951,400 
			 Total 500 314,200 208,100 745,700 3,400 1,271,900 
			
			  2002-03   
			 Violent offences 100 70,600 50,800 226,600 900 348,700 
			 Other offences 300 229,000 156,300 576,500 2,200 964,400 
			 Total 500 299,500 207,000 803,200 2,900 1,313,100 
			
			  2003-04   
			 Violent offences 100 83,000 56,900 256,000 900 396,800 
			 Other offences 500 230,300 145,200 555,600 1,900 933,800 
			 Total 700 313,200 202,200 811,700 2,700 1,330,400 
			
			  2004-05( 2)   
			 Violent offences 200 96,700 66,800 294,000 900 458,400 
			 Other offences 500 236,100 137,000 519,500 1,900 894,900 
			 Total 800 332,800 203,700 813,400 2,800 1,353,400 
			
			  2005-06   
			 Violent offences 200 108,500 74,500 331,800 800 515,800 
			 Other offences 500 239,900 140,300 531,100 2,000 914,000 
			 Total 800 348,500 214,700 863,100 2,700 1,429,800 
			 (1) Violent offences includes the offence categories of: violence against the person; sexual offences; robbery offences. Other offences includes the offence categories of: burglary; theft and handling stolen goods; fraud and forgery; criminal damage; drug offences; other offences. (2) Figures updated since publication of 2004-05 bulletin.  Note: Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when these data are used.

Crime: Bournemouth

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many arrests were made in Bournemouth in each of the last five years; and how many led to a conviction.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 19 June 2008
	The arrests collection held by the Ministry of Justice covers persons arrested for recorded crime (notifiable offences) by age group, gender, ethnicity and main offence group. Data collected centrally are not available below police force area level nor can they be linked to subsequent convictions or other outcomes.

Crimes of Violence: Essex

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many violent crimes there were per head of population in Essex in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: A number of changes have been made to recorded crime in response to suggestions in the two reviews of crime statistics. One such change is that the term 'violent crime' is no longer used in connection with recorded crime statistics and figures are now provided for violence against the person.
	Statistics giving the number of offences of violence against the person per 1,000 population in Essex are given in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of offences of violence against the person per 1,000 population in Essex. 
			   Rate per 1,000 population 
			 2002-03 14 
			 2003-04 16 
			 2004-05 16 
			 2005-06 15 
			 2006-07 14

Genetics: Databases

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people under the age of 16 years were registered on the national DNA database at the most recent date for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Meg Hillier: As at 31 December 2007, there were 147,367 subject profiles on the National DNA Database (NDNAD) from persons currently aged under 16 submitted by forces in England and Wales. The estimated number of individuals represented on the NDNAD is lower than the number of subject profiles as some profiles are replicates. The subject profile replication rate is currently calculated as 13.3 per cent. The estimated number of individuals aged under 16 is, therefore, 127,767.

Police: Pay

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what effect her decision not to backdate the police pay award will have on her Department's expenditure in  (a) 2008-09,  (b) 2009-10 and  (c) 2010-11.

Jacqui Smith: It will have no effect on Home Office expenditure. Funding for the police service for the three years beginning 2008-09 was announced on 6 December 2007. The staging of the 2007-08 police pay award means that around £40 million is realised for police authorities to invest in the provision of policing services.

Racially Aggravated Offences

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances a person may be charged with a racially aggravated offence against a person of the same ethnicity.

Vernon Coaker: The Association of Chief Police Officers' definition of hate crime is very broad and inclusive as follows:
	A hate crime is any criminal offence which is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person.
	It is therefore possible that the ethnicity of the offender could be the same as the victim's—for example, if a person in a mixed-race relationship was attacked by someone of the same ethnicity who disagreed with that type of relationship.

Sexual Offences

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Answer of 27 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 1519-20W, on sexual offences, whether there is a requirement for a person convicted of a sexual offence overseas, who would be included on the Sex Offender Register if the offence had been committed in the UK, to declare the conviction when seeking to visit or remain in the UK.

Vernon Coaker: A person convicted of a sexual offence overseas is not generally required to declare the conviction when seeking to visit or remain in the UK. However, if the person needs a visa to enter the UK, he is required to disclose on his visa application form whether he has ever been convicted of any criminal offence.
	We are aware that obtaining such information in relation to sex offenders is vital in ensuring that notification orders are used for the purposes for which they were intended, and that any other measures appropriate to protect the public can be taken. To try and ensure this we are actively engaged with a number of countries to try and develop ways of obtaining information on their convicted sex offenders and have already established such an arrangement with the Republic of Ireland.

Strip Clubs: Licensing

Lynda Waltho: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will take steps to give increased powers to local authorities to regulate lap dancing clubs, in particular by  (a) extending the category of sex encounter establishments across England and Wales and  (b) removing the exemption for establishments that possess a premises licence.

Vernon Coaker: The Government are consulting with local authorities on any concerns they have which they feel cannot be addressed by existing controls, including the Licensing Act 2003 and whether we need to do more to protect local communities. We do recognise that people do not necessarily want lap-dancing establishments in their neighbourhoods and we want to ensure local authorities have the powers to reflect the views of local people when considering applications. We will therefore consider whether or not lap-dancing clubs should fall under the category of sex encounter establishments under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 and legislate if this is necessary.

Truancy

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps  (a) police officers and  (b) police community support officers who discover a child truanting from school may take; and if she will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: I have been asked to reply.
	Under Section 16 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (as amended), police officers may, if authorised to do so by a chief police officer, take excluded pupils who are in a public place during normal school hours and children who they believe are out of school without lawful authority to a designated place established by the local authority or to the school. This power is often used during a "School Attendance and Exclusions Sweep".
	This Department and the Home Department have issued joint guidance to local authorities and police services on the use of the power to remove pupils from public places and the organisation of exercises using it called "School Attendance and Exclusions Sweeps: Effective Practice and Advice" which explains the law and gives examples of practice that is in use.
	Under Section 444A of the Education Act 1996 (as amended) police officers may issue fixed penalty notices to parents who fail to secure their child's regular attendance, if they have been authorised to do so by the local code of practice on the use of penalty notices.
	Police community support officers may also use the powers to remove pupils from a public place and to issue fixed penalty notices, if they have been designated to do so under the Police Reform Act 2002 by the .chief officer of the force concerned.
	The Department has not collected data on the number of "school attendance and exclusions sweeps" conducted by local authorities since autumn 2006, when we ceased co-ordinating national sweeps-allowing authorities to run sweeps according to local need. I have put the data we collected as part of the rationally co-ordinated exercises in the Library of the House.
	Analyses of national data show that there is a correlation between absence from school and pupils' levels of achievement, with average performance of pupils in schools with lower levels of absence better than pupils in schools with higher levels of absence. Data for 2006-07 showed that in secondary schools with an average of 12 days absence per pupil 36 per cent. of pupils or more obtained five of more GCSEs at grade A* to C including English and maths compared with 91 per cent. of pupils in secondary schools with an average of less than six days absence per pupil In primary schools with an average of more than 12 days absence per pupil 52 per cent. of 11-year-olds achieved level 4 or above in English and mathematics compared with 84 per cent. of pupils in schools where the average absence was less than six days per pupil.
	
		
			  Number of school attendance and exclusion sweeps organised by local authorities as part of the nationally co-ordinated exercises 
			   Number of Sweeps 
			  Local Authority  Spring 2003  2003- 4 s chool  y ear  2004-5  school y ear  2005-6  s chool  y ear  Autumn 2006 
			 Barking and Dagenham 3 11 6 6 3 
			 Barnet 8 0 13 5 2 
			 Barnsley 24 52 85 37 18 
			 Bath and NE Somerset 7 14 7 0 0 
			 Bedfordshire 14 28 42 38 16 
			 Bexley 1 7 29 12 4 
			 Birmingham 10 58 22 30 20 
			 Blackburn 14 10 16 20 7 
			 Blackpool 5 6 9 9 4 
			 Bolton 2 3 4 1 2 
			 Bournemouth 3 4 8 10 7 
			 Bracknell Forest 12 13 9 11 8 
			 Bradford 7 15 14 16 0 
			 Brent 9 0 3 8 3 
			 Brighton and Hove 2 3 2 4 6 
			 Bristol City 38 115 5 6 5 
			 Bromley 4 8 18 28 13 
			 Buckinghamshire 0 6 8 12 10 
			 Bury 10 112 70 46 10 
			 Calderdale 5 20 20 12 4 
			 Cambridgeshire 0 .20 29 21 5 
			 Camden 3 5 20 17 8 
			 Cheshire 1 5 23 17 10 
			 City of Derby 32 94 74 62 0 
			 City of Nottingham 25 38 32 33 8 
			 City of Westminster 5 8 7 8 3 
			 Cornwall 2 6 9 9 2 
			 Corporation of London 0 3 4 4 0 
			 Coventry 0 27 33 24 0 
			 Croydon 4 4 10 9 2 
			 Cumbria 0 4 8 4 2 
			 Darlington 2 3 4 5 1 
			 Derbyshire 4 29 25 26 0 
			 Devon 0 5 11 12 5 
			 Doncaster 4 11 24 0 11 
			 Dorset 3 0 5 4 11 
			 Dudley 0 18 7 9 4 
			 Durham 18 42 39 47 21 
			 Ealing 6 15 21 22 10 
			 East Riding 4 10 21 0 0 
			 East Sussex NB UG1 3 6 14 25 25 
			 Enfield 5 8 5 2 5 
			 Essex 6 12 26 29 14 
			 Gateshead 11 24 21 20 14 
			 Gloucestershire 6 10 12 16 8 
			 Greenwich 9 10 15 10 5 
			 Hackney 5 6 20 15 18 
			 Halton 8 4 10 12 9 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 16 18 33 30 14 
			 Hampshire 12 18 8 11 5 
			 Haringey 8 17 16 27 10 
			 Harrow 11 20 19 14 3 
			 Hartlepool 4 9 18 12 9 
			 Havering 3 0 2 6 4 
			 Herefordshire 3 6 2 0 1 
			 Hertfordshire 23 3 17 13 11 
			 Hillingdon 16 29 38 38 17 
			 Hounslow 8 12 18 64 21 
			 Isle of Wight 9 17 8 4 4 
			 Isles of Scilly 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Islington 10 18 25 20 7 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 8 16 7 5 1 
			 Kent 15 37 38 42 20 
			 Kingston upon Hull 14 11 8 0 5 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 3 6 5 14 4 
			 Kirklees 3 6 3 2 5 
			 Knowsley 0 0 16 9 3 
			 Lambeth 5 9 10 0 0 
			 Lancashire 0 46 30 34 14 
			 Leeds 4 35 44 37 5 
			 Leicester City 2 4 5 8 3 
			 Leicestershire 2 10 14 11 4 
			 Lewisham 9 14 10 9 5 
			 Lincolnshire 8 17 17 13 8 
			 Liverpool 22 94 89 97 36 
			 Luton 0 2 3 12 8 
			 Manchester 6 14 10 19 20 
			 Medway 0 4 3 11 3 
			 Merton 2 9 8 11 5 
			 Middlesbrough 9 21 25 20 10 
			 Milton Keynes 6 18 10 11 2 
			 Newcastle-upon-Tyne 15 41 36 32 8 
			 Newham 0 30 14 10 4 
			 Norfolk 0 2 15 7 0 
			 North East Lincolnshire 5 8 7 4 2 
			 North Lincolnshire 9 48 29 15 15 
			 North Somerset 9 12 18 9 2 
			 North Tyneside 5 15 5 5 0 
			 North Yorkshire 8 8 26 18 5 
			 Northamptonshire 8 5 8 6 9 
			 Northumberland 9 17 24 18 10 
			 Nottinghamshire 8 17 14 17 12 
			 Oldham 4 8 9 7 5 
			 Oxfordshire 21 16 10 6 3 
			 Peterborough 1 5 5 0 0 
			 Plymouth 3 6 3 0 3 
			 Poole 1 6 9 4 0 
			 Portsmouth 1 2 2 2 1 
			 Reading 3 6 6 11 5 
			 Redbridge 3 7 6 3- 3 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 5 6 8 9 8 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames 4 8 6 7 2 
			 Rochdale 0 10 9 7 2 
			 Rotherham 12 18 30 23 14 
			 Rutland 0 1 2 4 2 
			 Salford 0 11 10 7 5 
			 Sandwell 21 78 46 71 27 
			 Sefton 10 66 46 66 30 
			 Sheffield 10 10 10 0 0 
			 Shropshire 4 18 21 18 12 
			 Slough 8 9 6 3 0 
			 Solihull 5 0 26 23 6 
			 Somerset 6 7 8 5 3 
			 South Gloucestershire 5 5 7 7 10 
			 South Tyneside 0 7 8 6 0 
			 Southampton 2 8 20 3 7 
			 Southend 3 3 5 2 0 
			 Southwark 0 0 2 17 11 
			 St. Helens 18 10 9 10 5 
			 Staffordshire 27 55 27 32 22 
			 Stockport 10 30 26 20 20 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 2 5 5 6 0 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 6 8 5 33 0 
			 Suffolk 13 9 15 14 7 
			 Sunderland 5 10 17 19 14 
			 Surrey 9 19 18 14 9 
			 Sutton 6 9 15 17 2 
			 Swindon 4 1 8 10 7 
			 Tameside 2 7 9 24 0 
			 The Wrekin 6 23 20 32 11 
			 Thurrock 5 10 10 3 29 
			 Torbay 4 4 4 4 0 
			 Tower Hamlets 3 12 38 43 30 
			 Trafford 6 5 0 0 0 
			 Wakefield 3 10 6 8 4 
			 Walsall — 11 12 6 5 
			 Waltham Forest 3 12 12 11 6 
			 Wandsworth 6 7 3 6 2 
			 Warrington 10 19 20 12 3 
			 Warwickshire 0 4 4 4 3 
			 West Berkshire 4 9 8 6 3 
			 West Sussex 1 1 2 2 7 
			 Wigan :2 4 6 12 16 
			 Wiltshire 5 3 2 4 4 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 4 10 10 5 0 
			 Wirral 4 13 16 15 7 
			 Wokingham 0 2 1 a 0 
			 Wolverhampton 6 12 11 11 6 
			 York 4 47 22 25 23

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

32 Smith Square: Valuation

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when the rateable value of the offices at 32 Smith Square, Westminster was last assessed by the Valuation Office Agency.

John Healey: The rateable value of the offices at 32 Smith Square was last assessed by the Valuation Officer when he compiled the 2005 rating list for the City of Westminster. This came into force on 1 April 2005. Full details of the assessment history of all hereditaments are available on the Valuation Office Agency's website at:
	www.voa.gov.uk

Community Relations: Religion

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 27 November 2007,  Official Report, column 405W, on community relations: religion, when she expects to announce the independent review to examine with communities how to build the capacity of Islamic seminaries; who she expects to carry out the review; when she plans that it should report; what she estimates it will cost; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department has been developing the terms of reference for the review in close consultation with community partners, academics and practitioners. The Secretary of State expects to be in a position to announce full details of the review shortly.

Community Relations: Religion

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 29 November 2007,  Official Report, column 679W, on community relations: religion, what funds have been allocated to the National Muslim Women's Advisory Group for the three years from 2008-09.

Parmjit Dhanda: The following funds have been allocated to the National Muslim Women's Advisory Group (NMWAG) for the three years from 2008-09.
	
		
			  £ 
			   Running costs  Projects 
			 2008-09 40,000 150,000 
			 2009-10 40,000 200,000 
			 2010-11 40,000 200,000

Council Tax

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library a copy of her Department's research report on council tax rebilling costs, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister reference 050324.

John Healey: I have today placed in the Library of the House a copy of the research report 'Council Tax Rebilling Costs', which was completed in March 2005 and has been available publicly since then.

Council Tax: Valuation

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 8 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1076W, on council tax: valuation, on what date the Board met in each month from March 2003 to November 2005.

John Healey: The Valuation Office Agency's Programme Board for the postponed council tax revaluation in England met on:
	31 March 2003
	29 April 2003
	26 June 2003
	30 July 2003
	28 August 2003
	23 September 2003
	21 October 2003
	20 November 2003
	11 December 2003
	20 January 2004
	17 February 2004
	23 March 2004
	6 May 2004
	24 May 2004
	22 June 2004
	20 July 2004
	24 August 2004
	21 September 2004
	19 October 2004
	23 November 2004
	21 December 2004
	18 January 2005
	16 February 2005
	29 March 2005
	20 April 2005
	25 May 2005
	22 June 2005
	19 July 2005
	20 September 2005
	18 October 2005
	22 November 2005

Departmental Assets

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government over what period her Department depreciates the asset value of its  (a) vehicles,  (b) computer hardware,  (c) bespoke computer software,  (d) standard computer software,  (e) furniture and  (f) telecommunications equipment.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department depreciates its assets over periods consistent with the accounting standards laid out in the Financial Reporting Manual, published by HM Treasury.

Departmental Buildings

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how frequently her Department restates the asset values of its building estate.

Parmjit Dhanda: Asset values of land and buildings are restated, in the Department's resource accounts, at current value using professional valuations (in accordance with Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors guidance and Financial Reporting Standard 15) every five years and values are adjusted using the appropriate indices in intervening years. The resource accounts provide values at each 31 March, the Department's financial year-end.

Departmental Leave

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many privilege day holidays civil servants in her Department receive; and on what days they fall in 2008.

Parmjit Dhanda: Staff in Communities and Local Government are entitled to two and a half days privilege leave. For 2008 this will be as follows:
	Maundy Thursday—20 March 2008 afternoon only;
	The Queen's birthday—which can be taken on either 23 May 2008 or 27 May 2008;
	and
	an additional day at Christmas—24 December 2008.
	Staff working part-time have their privilege leave calculated on a pro rata basis.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 27 March 2008,  Official Report, column 351W, on ministerial policy advisers, which former special advisers have  (a) received approval from and  (b) been refused permission by her Department or its predecessor to take up an outside appointment on leaving their post since May 2005.

Parmjit Dhanda: Personal information about the applications submitted by special advisers, and other Crown servants, is made public only in accordance with the principles and practices followed in the operation of the Business Appointment Rules. This information, which includes details of the appointments of the most senior staff and statistical data about cases at the more junior levels, is published on the website of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (www.acoba.gov.uk) and in its reports.

Departmental Pay

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what proportion of staff in her Department received bonus payments in each of the last five years; what the total amount of bonuses paid has been; what the largest single payment was in each year; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department for Communities and Local Government made bonus payments to 495 staff under the terms of pay settlements for 2007. This represents 22 per cent. of the total work force as at 1 April 2007. This does not include staff in Government offices. For staff below the senior civil service, bonuses are paid to staff who exceed against their objectives for the year. For the senior civil service, bonuses are non-consolidated, non-pensionable cash payments that reward excellent performance during the year and are based on a judgment of how well an individual has performed relative to their peers. The total amount paid as bonus payments under these arrangements in 2007 was £1,018,350 and the largest single payment was £16,270. The Department has a special bonus scheme to reward exceptional performance over a limited period, in particularly demanding tasks or situations. The maximum bonus under these arrangements is £600 but records are not available to show the number of payments made under this scheme in 2007-08. The Department has not yet reached agreement on the level and award of bonus payments for 2008.
	For the period before that, I refer the hon. Member to the replies given by my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon (Angela E. Smith) on 18 June 2007,  Official Report, column 1523W, and on 6 December 2006,  Official Report, column 456W.
	For the total amount of bonuses paid in the last five years, I also refer the hon. Member to my replies to the hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr. Hammond) on 2 June 2008,  Official Report, column 538W, and 11 December 2007,  Official Report, column 543 W.

Departmental Procurement

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 2 June 2008,  Official Report, column 538W, on departmental procurement, what the minimum expenditure is that has to be authorised by a purchase order and prior approval by a budget holder.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department's policy is that no purchase order will be raised without authorisation by a delegated budget holder. Additionally the Department's finance system enforces a further separate approval process to safeguard improper use funds.

Departmental Public Participation

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Maidenhead of 2 June 2008,  Official Report, column 539W, on departmental public participation, what the topic of the housing-related research commissioned from Dorset County Council was.

Parmjit Dhanda: In the answer of 2 June 2008,  Official Report, column 539W, we had added the following information.
	Dorset county council—Housing related research 8,800.00
	This was added in error as the money for Dorset county council was not related to housing related research. The payment related to consultancy support for a business improvement package website. We are taking steps to rectify the answer.

Departmental Security

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many departmental identity cards or departmental passes have been reported lost or stolen in the last 24 months in  (a) her Department and  (b) each of its Executive agencies.

Parmjit Dhanda: Five departmental passes have been reported as stolen by staff in the HQ buildings for Communities and Local Government during the period June 2006 to June 2008.
	A further 122 replacement departmental passes have been issued in the same period. It is not possible to say how many of the passes were lost other than by theft. Security passes may need to be replaced for a variety of reasons including loss, theft, damage, or change of name and the Department does not record the reasons for the replacement of a departmental pass.
	Identity cards are used in very limited areas within the Department and none have been reported lost or stolen in the period.
	The Government office for the West Midlands re-issued all of their passes on 1 January 2008. No records have been retained about losses up to that date. Seven passes have been replaced in 2008 to date. A further 113 passes have been replaced and two reported as stolen in the remainder of the GO network. Although CLG has overall responsibility for these, the Government offices carry out functions on behalf of ten Departments.
	In addition, a further 69 passes have been reported lost by the Executive agencies.
	None of the passes for the HQ buildings, GOs or agencies have the name or address of the building, department or organisation to which it refers, on them. The Department assesses all cases of lost or stolen passes to determine any increased vulnerability to security. Additional controls and procedures are introduced as necessary.

Departmental Trade Unions

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which trade unions represent members of staff in  (a) her Department and  (b) its agencies.

Parmjit Dhanda: The following trade unions are officially recognised by the Department and its agencies to represent members of staff: Association of First Division Civil Servants (FDA), Prospect and the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS).
	In addition, the Fire Service College, an Executive agency of the Department, also recognises the General Municipal and Boilermakers Union (GMB) and the Fire Brigades Union (FBU).

Employment: Young People

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what measures she has in place to determine what the level of youth employment is in each region of England.

Tom Watson: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated June 2008:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what measures are in place to determine the level of youth unemployment in each region of England. I am replying in her absence. (208995)
	The Office for National Statistics publishes estimates of unemployment by age and region on line at:
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
	The source of the information is the Annual Population Survey which collects information on around 350,000 people in a 12 month period. The historical estimates are currently in the process of being updated to reflect the latest estimates of the population.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.

Housing: Thermal Insulation

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what cost/benefit analysis she has carried out into the effectiveness of cavity wall insulation, with particular reference to its effect on greenhouse gas emissions;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the number of houses which are not suitable for cavity wall insulation.

Phil Woolas: I have been asked to reply.
	Prior to drawing up the policy, DEFRA and the Energy Saving Trust commissioned a series of research projects, including in situ measurement of the heat loss through insulated cavities, to measure and understand the effectiveness of cavity wall insulation. Measurements were taken in a variety of geographical locations. The work was summarised in a report by Glasgow Caledonian University and published in 2006 on the DEFRA website. The report on the final stage of the in situ monitoring project is to be published shortly.
	Our final estimate of the annual carbon savings from insulating the cavity of a three bedroom semi-detached house is 634 kgC02 per year. The financial savings, based on BERR fuel prices for the domestic sector in June 2007, are estimated at £78 per year (after deducting increased comfort). Given that the cost of insulation to the householder (i.e. after the energy suppliers' subsidy) is estimated to be around £200, cavity wall insulation remains a highly cost effective measure. In terms of carbon savings, it is the single most important measure in CERT.
	The Explanatory Memorandum for CERT estimates that there are around 1.2 million homes in Great Britain for which the cavities are technically unfillable, or difficult to fill at present.

INTERREG Programme: Finance

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what funding the POLYNET study into Mega-City Regions has received from  (a) her Department or its predecessor and  (b) the INTERREG programme.

Parmjit Dhanda: In 2003 Communities and Local Government's predecessor department awarded the POLYNET project £151,450 in matchfunding to assist in developing their bid for North West Europe Interreg IIIB programme funding.
	POLYNET, led by the UK's Institute of Community Studies (now the Young Foundation), subsequently received a €1,144,114 ERDF grant from the Interreg IIIB North West Europe programme.

Local Area Agreements

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library a copy of the full text of each  (a) round 2 and  (b) round 3 local area agreement.

John Healey: The full text of round 2 and round 3 local area agreements were placed in the Library in April 2006 and April 2007 respectively. The agreements are also on the Improvement and Development Agency website at:
	www.idea.gov.uk

Local Area Agreements

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many local authorities have signed a  (a) round 1,  (b) round 2 and  (c) round 3 local area agreement with (i) her Department and (ii) the relevant Government Office for the region.

John Healey: Rounds 1, 2 and 3 local area agreements (LAAs) were signed by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and her predecessors on behalf of Government. 21 LAAs were signed in round 1, 66 in round 2 and 62 in round 3.

Local Area Agreements

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many local authorities have signed a  (a) first generation and  (b) second generation local public service agreement with (i) her Department and (ii) the relevant Government Office for the region.

John Healey: First and second generation local public service agreements were signed on behalf of Government by a Minister of State at CLG (or its predecessors) and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. They were signed on behalf of the local authorities by the leader and chief executive. Round one local public service agreements were signed with 144 upper tier and unitary local authorities. Second generation local public service agreements have been signed with 57 areas.

Local Government Finance: Fixed Penalties

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on what activities local authorities may spend income accrued from fixed penalty notices; whether this is affected by each local authority's comprehensive performance assessment; and whether this system will change under the comprehensive area assessment procedure.

John Healey: The extent to which authorities may retain income from fixed penalty notices, and the purposes to which that income should be put, will depend on the statute and rules relevant to each fixed penalty notice (FPN). Income from FPNs must be returned to the Exchequer through the Consolidated Fund, unless legislation under which each FPN is issued makes provision for local authorities to retain that income. The introduction of the comprehensive area assessment will not change the rules under which fixed penalty notices operate.

Local Government Finance: Greater London

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what central Government grant support was provided to each London borough per capita in each of the last 10 years.

John Healey: The information requested on the central Government grant provided to each London borough per capita in each of the last 10 years is listed in the following table. Aggregate information for England is published in editions of "Local Government Financial Statistics" and the information is drawn from the Communities and Local Government Revenue Outturn (RO) returns and Office for National Statistics' (ONS) mid-year population estimates.
	
		
			  Central Government grant provided to each London borough per capita from 1997-98 to 2006-07 
			  £ per head 
			   1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Barking and Dagenham 750 848 944 1,030 1,094 1,162 1,344 1,351 1,393 1,729 
			 Barnet 595 641 658 706 752 756 837 873 919 956 
			 Bexley 590 640 691 740 797 837 912 945 1,014 1,068 
			 Brent 843 878 911 945 999 1,028 1,212 1,289 1,368 1,447 
			 Bromley 508 545 579 623 671 674 750 780 829 863 
			 Camden 1,043 1,088 1,100 1,116 1,174 1,207 1,270 1,331 1,384 1,402 
			 City of London 17,077 14,869 13,209 12,661 12,570 13,573 15,810 15,968 16,364 16,265 
			 Croydon 601 642 672 729 796 860 962 1,015 1,091 1,152 
			 Ealing 697 741 767 816 874 903 991 1,025 1,133 1,115 
			 Enfield 693 751 806 873 952 980 1,094 1,148 1,179 1,391 
			 Greenwich 931 976 1,063 1,148 1,215 1,263 1,448 1,535 1,700 1,726 
			 Hackney 1,281 1,265 1,299 1,342 1,391 1,624 1,789 1,900 2,033 2,125 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 937 957 990 1,028 1,068 1,122 1,263 1,321 1,407 1,393 
			 Haringey 922 1,004 1,084 1,232 1,339 1,350 1,510 1,548 1,591 1,626 
			 Harrow 562 605 630 672 720 759 866 911 949 986 
			 Havering 534 577 608 658 715 741 811 855 896 974 
			 Hillingdon 603 642 709 699 854 872 954 1,017 1,152 1,137 
			 Hounslow 746 772 819 863 919 953 1,050 1,102 1,164 1,209 
			 Islington 1,082 1,133 1,280 1,369 1,433 1,510 1,710 1,729 1,737 1,902 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 830 844 864 882 876 925 1,045 1,034 1,044 1,103 
			 Kingston upon Thames 510 525 548 589 632 646 728 759 794 833 
			 Lambeth 994 1,009 1,066 1,100 1,154 1,250 1,378 1,443 1,474 1,584 
			 Lewisham 902 949 996 1,079 1,115 1,159 1,409 1,562 1,528 1,559 
			 Merton 546 588 629 656 674 690 769 844 904 955 
			 Newham 1,113 1,218 1,283 1,367 1,454 1,544 1,766 1,819 2,040 2,054 
			 Redbridge 651 709 769 845 909 873 955 1,011 1,065 1,116 
			 Richmond upon Thames 418 446 474 547 575 609 671 672 688 728 
			 Southwark 997 1,043 1,127 1,242 1,270 1,370 1,672 1,763 1,896 1,781 
			 Sutton 564 596 640 687 732 747 849 937 968 990 
			 Tower Hamlets 1,350 1,436 1,495 1,574 1,666 1,742 1,972 2,106 2,269 2,316 
			 Waltham Forest 815 867 952 1,035 1,117 1,189 1,265 1,340 1,402 1,451 
			 Wandsworth 804 797 827 857 886 911 1,028 1,049 1,086 1,141 
			 Westminster 1,149 1,114 1,136 1,140 1,152 1,177 1,306 1,311 1,339 1,398 
			  Notes: 1. Central Government grant is defined here as the sum of Formula grant (Revenue Support Grant, Police grant, General GLA grant and redistributed non-domestic rates) and Specific grants inside Aggregate External Finance (AEF), i.e. revenue grants paid for council's core services. In the past years, it also includes SSA Reduction Grant and Central Support Protection Grant. 2. Figures exclude grants outside AEF (i.e. where funding is not for authorities' core services, but is passed to a third party, for example, rent allowances and rebates), capital grants, funding for the local authorities' housing management responsibilities and those grant programmes (such as European funding) where authorities are simply one of the recipients of funding paid towards an area. 3. Per capita figures are based on Office for National Statistics' (ONS) Mid-Year Population estimates for respective years.  Source: Communities and Local Government Revenue Outturn (RO) returns.

Local Government: Borrowing

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what statistics her Department collects on local authority borrowing.

John Healey: Data on local authority borrowing are collected from various financial returns that are sent to local authorities. A full list of these can be found at:
	http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/stats/lgfforms/Lgfforms.htm

Local Government: Elections

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what requirement there is on local authorities to inform her Department of their intention to change their electoral arrangements under the provisions of Part 2 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.

John Healey: There is no requirement on local authorities to inform the Secretary of State of their intention to change their electoral arrangements; under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 these are matters for local authorities themselves and the Electoral Commission.

Local Government: Pensions

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the timetable is for the publication of the national conclusions of the 2007 Local Government Pension Scheme revaluation.

John Healey: Each of the 89 local authority pension funds in England and Wales underwent an actuarial valuation of their funds on 31 March 2007, as required by the Local Government Pension scheme regulations. Individual fund valuation results are available from the appropriate fund administering authority but no national conclusions are published.

Local Government: Standards

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many local area agreement enabling measure requests were made in  (a) the pilot round and  (b) Round 2; and how many measure requests were accepted.

John Healey: In the pilot round, 56 requests for local area agreement enabling measures were made and, out of these, 29 were accepted.
	In round 2, 324 requests were made and, out of these, 127 were accepted, partly accepted or already permissible.

Non-domestic Rates: Greater London

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was raised by each London borough via national non-domestic rates in each of the last five years.

John Healey: The amount collected from national non-domestic rates by each London borough, between 2002-03 and 2006-07 is shown in the following table. The figures are given in £ millions and are the amount collected by the local authorities after any allowances for reliefs. No allowances have been made for any collection costs, losses in collection or interest paid on repayments. Data for 2007-08 are not yet available.
	
		
			  Non-domestic rates collected by London boroughs 2002-03 to 2006-07 
			  £ million 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Barking and Dagenham 40.6 41.7 41.5 41.9 44.6 
			 Barnet 73.7 67.7 73.8 80.1 86.0 
			 Bexley 48.7 48.1 44.5 52.7 55.1 
			 Brent 62.0 61.6 64.8 70.1 73.0 
			 Bromley 62.2 60.2 62.0 67.5 72.3 
			 Camden 216.3 220.0 230.5 253.5 283.2 
			 City of London 540.9 562.9 529.4 533.6 572.8 
			 Croydon 89.0 85.3 86.8 91.2 93.6 
			 Ealing 93.8 88.7 93.4 98.4 109.5 
			 Enfield 62.1 66.2 66.8 72.1 79.2 
			 Greenwich 40.2 43.2 40.3 43.2 47.5 
			 Hackney 46.9 50.1 46.2 52.8 55.1 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 93.8 96.7 106.0 94.3 109.3 
			 Haringey 42.8 35.5 41.9 47.3 46.9 
			 Harrow 43.3 40.5 40.8 37.7 42.2 
			 Havering 50.3 49.8 49.3 51.5 57.2 
			 Hillingdon 229.9 231.6 245.7 230.8 252.3 
			 Hounslow 113.1 103.7 111.0 112.6 114.3 
			 Islington 106.9 109.5 99.1 117.9 127.2 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 137.9 141.5 155.7 168.2 184.7 
			 Kingston upon Thames 55.0 55.3 57.6 62.9 67.2 
			 Lambeth 61.1 55.2 61.5 72.1 79.2 
			 Lewisham 32.4 34.2 35.2 36.5 39.0 
			 Merton 50.7 51.0 53.2 56.4 60.1 
			 Newham 52.6 49.6 58.3 60.8 65.2 
			 Redbridge 38.6 37.6 38.6 40.2 42.0 
			 Richmond upon Thames 50.8 51.9 54.1 60.0 62.6 
			 Southward 83.9 82.9 94.3 103.8 108.4 
			 Sutton 36.6 34.7 36.7 39.1 42.7 
			 Tower Hamlets 147.3 176.5 200.2 220.3 245.4 
			 Waltham Forest 34.5 36.0 35.1 38.4 39.9 
			 Wandsworth 56.1 60.5 64.7 71.6 78.4 
			 Westminster 847.7 870.1 899.8 951.8 1,000.4 
			 Total 3,741.6 3,800.1 3,918.9 4,131.0 4,436.5 
		
	
	The figures shown are outturn figures taken from audited National Non-Domestic Rates 3 (NNDR3) returns that are completed by all billing authorities in England.

Parish Councils: Council Tax

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 2 June 2008,  Official Report, column 534W, on council tax, what methodology her Department used to calculate the average Band D parish council tax precept, as cited in the answer of 14 June 2007,  Official Report, column 1169W; and whether she will use the same process to calculate the equivalent figure for 2008-09.

John Healey: The methodology used to estimate the average Band D parish council tax precept is based on assumptions set out in Local Government Financial Statistics England, as referred to in the answer of 2 June 2008,  Official Report, column 534W. My officials are not yet sufficiently confident of the quality of a 2008-09 estimate of the average Band D parish council tax precept to publish it at this stage.

Post Offices: Non-domestic Rates

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2008, Offi cial Report, column 546W, on post offices: non-domestic rates, how many post offices were on the 1995 ratings list in 1997 or the closest period to that year for which figures are available.

John Healey: The number of properties with a description of 'post office and premises' appearing in the rating lists for England as at 31 March 1997 was 4,742. This does not include post office facilities in premises primarily used for other purposes, such as shops, and many post offices appear in the rating lists as 'shop and premises', without any identifier to show they are also post offices.

Public Telephones

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many stand-alone telephone boxes were on the Ratings List in England and Wales in the most recent period for which figures are available.

John Healey: The number of separate assessments of stand-alone telephone boxes appearing in the local rating lists for England as at 27 May 2008 was 1,248. This figure is the number of assessments rather than individual boxes and some assessments will be in respect of clusters of telephone boxes. British Telecom and Kingston Communications (Hull) Ltd. telephone boxes are not separately assessed from their networks.

Strip Clubs: Licensing

Lynda Waltho: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps she is taking to tackle the concerns of local authorities that their licensing powers for lap-dancing clubs have been restricted by the Licensing Act 2003.

Vernon Coaker: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government are consulting with local authorities on any concerns they have which they feel cannot be addressed by existing controls, including the Licensing Act 2003 and whether we need to do more to protect local communities. We do recognise that people do not necessarily want lap-dancing establishments in their neighbourhoods and we want to ensure local authorities have the powers to reflect the views of local people when considering applications. We will therefore consider whether or not lap-dancing clubs should fall under the category of Sex Encounter Establishments under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 and legislate if this is necessary.

Valuation Office: Databases

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many records relating to individual dwellings on the Valuation Office Agency's property database were updated as part of the Inactivated 10 Review for CTR 2007.

John Healey: Individual dwelling details are regularly updated as part of the VOA's statutory responsibility for maintaining accurate valuation lists. There is no record of the number of amendments made before or after the decision to postpone the council tax revaluation.

HEALTH

Accident and Emergency Departments: Mentally Ill

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were admitted to accident and emergency units in England for mental health related issues in each of the last five years.

Ivan Lewis: Information is not available in the requested format because patients are not admitted to accident and emergency units (A and E). Patients may be admitted to hospital as emergency admissions via A and E and through other routes.
	Information is available on the number of finished admission episodes (FAEs) for patients with a mental illness and who were treated under a consultant from a mental health or learning disability speciality, following emergency admission to hospital between 2002-03 and 2006-07, and these data are shown in the following table.
	The data include patient episode numbers where patients with a mental illness were seen in A and E before admittance to hospital as an inpatient. Some patients may have completed more than one treatment episode during the course of a year so patient episode numbers are not a reliable indicator of patients numbers. The data exclude include those who attended A and E but were not subsequently admitted to hospital.
	
		
			  FAEs for patients with a mental illness who were treated under a consultant from a mental health or learning disability speciality, following emergency admittance to hospital via A and E or other routes: total admission episodes, male and female, all ages in the national health service in England between 2002-03 and 2006-07 
			   Emergency admittance via A and E services of health care provider  Emergency admittance via other means including patients referred via the A and E department of another health care provider  Total 
			 2002-03 17,360 73,335 90,695 
			 2003-04 17,883 69,076 86,959 
			 2004-05 16,374 68,786 85,160 
			 2005-06 13,828 65,199 79,027 
			 2006-07 12,804 61,027 73,831 
			  Source: The Information Centre for health and social care.

Anorexia

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many cases of anorexia were diagnosed in England in each of the last five years for which figures are available, broken down by  (a) region,  (b) age and  (c) sex;
	(2)  how many cases of bulimia were diagnosed in England in each of the last five years for which figures are available, broken down by  (a) region,  (b) age and  (c) sex.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Antidepressants: Prescriptions

Doug Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prescriptions of  (a) individual benzodiazepine drugs and  (b) individual antidepressants were dispensed in the community in 2007.

Dawn Primarolo: Benzodiazepine drugs are used to treat a variety of conditions and therefore appear in several different parts of the British National Formulary (BNF) and are shown in table 1 as follows:
	
		
			  Table 1: Benzodiazepine prescription items dispensed, in the community, in England, in 2007 
			  BNF generic name  Item (thousand) 
			 Alprazolam — 
			 Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride 272.6 
			 Clobazam 147.9 
			 Clonazepam 474.1 
			 Diazepam 4,722.5 
			 Loprazolam Mesilate 108.1 
			 Lorazepam 881.8 
			 Lormetazepam 119.1 
			 Midazolam 1.9 
			 Midazolam Hydrochloride 49.2 
			 Midazolam Maleate 4.3 
			 Nitrazepam 1,249.9 
			 Oxazepam 188.8 
			 Temazepam 3,254.8 
			 Total 11,475.0 
			 '—' Indicates the number of prescriptions dispensed was between 0 and 100.  Source: Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) system 
		
	
	Antidepressant drugs are grouped into BNF section 4.3 and are shown in table 2 as follows:
	
		
			  Table 2: Antidepressant prescription items dispensed, in the community, in England, in 2007 
			  BNF generic name  Item (thousand) 
			 Amitriptyline Embonate — 
			 Amitriptyline Hydrochloride 6,591.1 
			 Amoxapine — 
			 Citalopram Hydrobromide 7,830.7 
			 Clomipramine Hydrochloride 367.1 
			 Desipramine Hydrochloride — 
			 Dosulepin Hydrochloride 2077.6 
			 Doxepin 42.0 
			 Duloxetine Hydrochloride 267.3 
			 Escitalopram 1,373.9 
			 Fluoxetine Hydrochloride 5,045.7 
			 Flupentixol Hydrochloride 197.0 
			 Fluvoxamine Maleate 29.9 
			 Imipramine Hydrochloride 209.1 
			 Isocarboxazid 3.3 
			 Lofepramine Hydrochloride 421.6 
			 Maprotiline Hydrochloride 0.3 
			 Mianserin Hydrochloride 9.7 
			 Mirtazapine 2,101.5 
			 Moclobemide 24.9 
			 Nefazodone Hydrochloride 0.5 
			 Nortriptyline 180.0 
			 Oxitriptan — 
			 Paroxetine Hydrochloride 1,765.9 
			 Phenelzine Sulphate 24.4 
			 Reboxetine 53.4 
			 Sertraline Hydrochloride 2,032.8 
			 Tranylcypromine Sulphate 12.7 
			 Trazodone Hydrochloride 749.7 
			 Trimipramine Maleate 142.6 
			 Tryptophan 10.3 
			 Venlafaxine 2,274.7 
			 Total 33,839.7 
			 '—' Indicates the number of prescriptions dispensed was between 0 and 100.  Source: PCA system.

Autism: Hertfordshire

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in  (a) the Dacorum borough council area and  (b) Hertfordshire have been diagnosed with autism; and how many of them are children.

Ivan Lewis: This information is not held centrally.

Cancer: East of England

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will make an assessment of the possible social impact of proposals for the reorganisation of oncology services in the East of England on families in Ipswich and the surrounding areas;
	(2)  if he will hold discussions with the Minister for Women and Equality on the possible effect of proposals for the reorganisation of oncology services in the East of England on women in Ipswich and the surrounding areas;
	(3)  if he will assess the impact of proposals for the reorganisation of oncology services in the East of England on those living in wards that are low down on the index of multiple deprivation in Ipswich and the surrounding areas;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of the impact of proposals for the reorganisation of oncology services in the East of England on carbon dioxide emissions in Ipswich and surrounding areas;
	(5)  if he will investigate the accuracy of the figures provided by Ipswich Hospital to the Suffolk Primary Care Trust on the number of head and neck cancer cases dealt with by that hospital.

Ivan Lewis: Primary care trusts (PCTs) in conjunction with their strategic health authorities (SHAs), and other stakeholders are responsible for assessing and making decisions regarding local services.
	We understand that no decisions have been made, and that Suffolk PCT has led a consultation from 5 March 2008 to 4 June 2008, on a proposal to change the provision of specialist head and neck cancer surgery for patients in East Suffolk and in West Suffolk. The right hon. Member may therefore wish to raise these issues with the chief executives of Suffolk PCT or the East of England SHA.
	More generally where it is agreed that the proposals to reconfigure services include any significant change to the way services are provided, local trusts have a duty to consult with the public and the relevant overview and scrutiny committee (OSC). Following the consultation period, the national health service organisations will have to make a decision on the best way forward. Local OSCs have the power to review and scrutinise health services from the perspective of their local populations, and can refer proposals to the Secretary of State if they believe the plans are not in the interests of the health service. Ultimately, however, the configuration of healthcare services in a particular area is a decision that needs to be taken at a local level.

Cannabis: Rehabilitation

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 25 March 2008,  Official Report, column 16W, on drugs: rehabilitation, for what reasons there are no plans to integrate cannabis cessation services within national health service stop smoking services.

Dawn Primarolo: We encourage closer working between national health service (NHS) 'Stop Smoking Services' and those services that support cannabis cessation where there is a locally identified need for this.
	This might include improving the systems locally for identifying such need within services or populations at risk and might also include developing models of integrated provision of services, the facilitation of mutual referrals between such services or a combination of both such approaches.
	The nature of this closer work is a matter for the local NHS services to decide on and we expect commissioners and providers will develop such services in response to their ongoing assessment of local needs and priorities.
	It is important to note that some cannabis users may also be using other illicit drugs and it therefore may be more appropriate for them to be given cannabis cessation advice within specialist drug treatment services.

Congenital Abnormalities

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) males and  (b) females were born with amniotic band syndrome in each of the last 10 years.

Tom Watson: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 25 June 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many (a) males and (b) females were born with amniotic band syndrome in each of the last 10 years. (212444)
	The table attached provides the number of (a) male and (b) female live and still births notified to the National Congenital Anomaly System for England and Wales (NCAS) with a mention of amniotic bands or clinically similar terms, for 2000 to 2006 (the latest year available). Figures are not available prior to 2000.
	The number of notifications received by NCAS is likely to be less than the actual number of infants born with an anomaly. NHS Trusts provide these notifications to NCAS on a voluntary basis, either on forms sent to the Office for National Statistics or via local congenital anomaly registers. The recording of congenital anomalies is more complete in those areas where a register operates, because the register can obtain additional information locally. Consequently, the figures for congenital anomalies are presented separately for areas where a register operated and for areas without a register in a particular year. While a few of these local congenital anomaly registers were already established in 2000, others were set up as late as 2003. In 2006, registers covered 43 per cent of births in England and all births in Wales.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of notifications to the National Congenital Anomaly System with a mention of amniotic bands, congenital constriction bands or Limb Body Wall complex( 1) , 2000-06 England and Wales( 2) 
			Register areas  Non-register areas  Total 
			   Percentage of births covered by a register( 3)  Male  Female  Male  Female  Male  Female 
			 2000 27 0 1 0 0 0 1 
			 2001 26 1 0 0 0 1 0 
			 2002 32 3 1 0 1 3 2 
			 2003 45 5 3 2 3 7 6 
			 2004 48 6 4 2 2 8 6 
			 2005 48 9 4 1 2 10 6 
			 2006(4) 44 7 4 2 3 9 7 
			 (1) The table includes notifications coded to Q79.8 using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Edition (ICD-10) with a mention of amniotic bands, congenital constriction bands or limb body wall complex. (2) Figures are not available before 2000. (3) Births to women resident in England and Wales. (4) Figures for 2006 exclude data for some areas which used to be part of East Midlands and South Yorkshire congenital anomaly register.

Dental Services: Internet

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the list of NHS dentists in the find services section of the NHS website was last updated; and whether there are plans to update it.

Ben Bradshaw: The NHS Choices dentist directory lists the details of approximately 12,500 dental practices.
	Dentist directory data is provided by two sources. The first source is NHS Connecting for Health's primary care information service (PCIS). NHS Choices receives a daily data feed from PCIS which updates the dental directory every evening. This feed covers approximately 3,000 dentists. The accuracy and completeness of this data is the responsibility of the PCIS.
	The second source of dental practice data is from primary care trusts (PCTs). PCTs are responsible for maintaining national health service dentist data for the remaining 9,500 dental practices. NHS Choices provides PCTs with a secure on-line facility to edit the details of dental practitioners with whom they contract. Changes made by PCT web-editors are generally shown on NHS Choices within 24 hours.

Departmental Conferences

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the conferences hosted by his Department in each of the last two years; and what the cost was of each conference.

Ben Bradshaw: This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Land

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to page 174 of his Department's Annual Report 2008, if he will list each receipt from land sales  (a) in 2007-08 and  (b) expected in 2008-09; and what (i) the location of the land sold was, (ii) the book value of each piece of land was and (iii) the amount for which each was sold was.

Ben Bradshaw: Details of national health service property sales are not held centrally. The following tables provide the requested details in respect of sales of assets in the ownership of the Secretary of State, as follows:
	Table 1—receipts from land sales to third parties completed during 2007-08; and
	Table 2—properties sold or expected to be sold to third parties during 2008-09.
	In table 1, the sale price has been given where a property has been sold. Where a property remains to be sold, the anticipated receipt is commercially confidential and therefore has not been provided.
	Three of the properties listed as sold in 2007-08 were transferred to English Partnerships as part of a much larger portfolio to assist with the Government's Sustainable Communities programme, for which a single price was agreed. The proceeds listed are an apportionment of the total transfer price.
	
		
			  Table1: 2007-08 disposals of departmental property to third parties 
			  Properties sold to third parties  Location  Asset value (£000)  Sale price (£000) 
			 10 Woodside Plymouth 237 335 
			 18 Paddington Green London W2 1,025 1,210 
			 337-339 Hackney Road London E2 598 1,430 
			 35 Higher Kingston Yeovil, Somerset 34 135 
			 Eastry Hospital Kent 1,700 1,700 
			 Land at former Princess Elizabeth Orthopaedic Hospital Barrack Road, Exeter, Devon 0 165 
			 Queen Elizabeth Children's Hospital Hackney, London 7,632 8,500 
			 Cane Hill Hospital Coulsdon, Surrey 17,641 (1)10,666 
			 St. Mary's Hospital Stannington, Northumbria 9,993 3,875 
			 103 Oakwood Drive Ulverston, Cumbria 133 129 
			 Sedgefield Community Hospital Sedgefield, Co. Durham 3,067 3,269 
			 Agricultural Land adj. Winterton Hospital, Sedgefield, Co. Durham 105 105 
			 Willowburn Hospice, former Maiden Law Hospital Lanchester, Durham 191 185 
			 18 Battlefields Lane Holbeach, Lincolnshire 144 116 
			 112 Northbourne Road Jarrow, Tyne and Wear 83 83 
			 140 Hedworth Lane Jarrow, Tyne and Wear 140 140 
			 27 Willow Grange Jarrow, Tyne and Wear 131 131 
			 Holbeach Hospital Holbeach, Lincolnshire 617 325 
			 Land at Honey Lane Waltham Abbey, Essex 76 73 
			 Land at Mollands Lane/Mollands Ct. South Ockendon, Essex 0 22 
			 Land adj. to Warde Aldam Nursing Home, South Elmsall Wakefield, West Yorks 105 248 
			 Cherry Knowle Hospital, part Ryhope, Sunderland 17,604 (1)4,267 
			 Land at Towers Hospital Leicester 758 1,592 
			 Towers Hospital, Oakham House Leicester 56 (1)711 
			 (1 )Part of portfolio transfer 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: 2008-09 planned disposals of departmental property to third parties 
			  Properties sold or expected to be sold to third parties  Location  Asset value (£000)  Sale price (£000) 
			 30 Paul Road Bodmin, Cornwall 97 97 
			 332 High Road London N15 195 — 
			 Dog Kennel Wood Aylesford, Kent 42 — 
			 Napsbury North Land London Colney, St. Albans 443 — 
			 10 houses in North West Surrey North West Surrey 2,064 2,200 
			 10 Palmer Crescent, Ottershaw, Surrey 264 — 
			 Woodside Car Park Plymouth 132 — 
			 22-38 Princes Road Redhill, Surrey 1,212 — 
			 67 Warwick Avenue Kensington, London 1,286 — 
			 667-669 Garratt Lane London SW17 268 — 
			 63-65 Bardsley Drive Farnham, Surrey 379 — 
			 Blackbrook House Fareham, Hampshire 2,329 — 
			 Farm Lane House Plymouth 310 — 
			 Halcyon Plymouth 310 — 
			 Oaklands Plymouth 275 — 
			 Horton House Horton Hospital, Epsom 706 675 
			 Stoke Mandeville Residences Stoke Mandeville, Bucks. 2,864 — 
			 15 Ambleside Avenue Streatham, London 525 — 
			 50 Scattergate Green Appleby, Cumbria 79 — 
			 White Hart Hotel, Cold Bath Road Harrogate, West Yorks 2,877 — 
			 Land at Northern View Bradford, West Yorks 8,229 — 
			 Eagle Cottages, Monkton Lane, Monkton Village Jarrow, Tyne and Wear 354 — 
			 Former Primrose Lane Hospital Site Primrose Lane, Huntingdon, Cambs 838 — 
			 Land at Cronehills Health Centre West Bromwich 50 — 
			 Land at Wellington Cottage Hospital Wellington, Shropshire 270 — 
			 Little Plumstead, Phase 2 Near Norwich, Norfolk 2,731 — 
			 Land at Dale Crescent, Balderton Near Newark 11 — 
			 Warwick Cottage, adjoining Melton War Memorial Hospital Melton Mowbray 116 —

Departmental Pay

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department paid in bonuses to staff in  (a) 2007-08 and  (b) 2006-07; and for each year (i) how many staff received bonuses, (ii) what the highest amount paid to any individual was and (iii) what the average bonus was; and how many staff received bonuses above (A) £1,000, (B) £5,000, (C) 10,000 and (D) £20,000.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested is provided in the following table.
	
		
			   2007-08  2006-07 
			 Amount paid as bonuses (£) 1,947,319 1,400,049 
			 Number of staff receiving bonuses 618 420 
			 Highest amount of bonus paid to an individual (£) 27,500 22,500 
			 Average amount of bonus paid (£) 3,151 3,333 
			 Number of staff receiving bonuses above £1,000 265 216 
			 Number of staff receiving bonuses above £5,000 130 119 
			 Number of staff receiving bonuses above £10,000 62 20 
			 Number of staff receiving bonuses above £20,000 6 2 
		
	
	Special bonuses can be awarded to any member of staff in recognition of work beyond their normal range of duties. Annual bonuses are paid to staff who are members of the senior civil service, based on the extent to which objectives are met, how they are met and how stretching they are.

Departmental Pay

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of staff in his Department received bonus payments in 2007-08; what the amount of bonuses paid was; what the largest single payment was; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: In total 618 staff in the Department received bonus payments in 2007-08. They represented 28 per cent. of the total work force. The total amount of bonuses paid was £1,947,319. The largest single payment was £27,500.
	A significant proportion of bonuses paid were to staff who are senior civil servants, where the Department's policy is determined by the Cabinet Office guidance on civil service bonuses.

Gambling: Females

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women contacted the NHS for help with gambling addiction in each year for which figures are available since 1997.

Ivan Lewis: The information is not collected centrally.
	Problem gamblers can access services in primary care and secondary care including specialised mental health and addiction services. Information is not collected centrally about diagnoses for any condition in primary care, so reliable data are not available about the number of women who contacted the national health service for help with problem gambling.

General Practitioners

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the capacity of groups of GPs to bid for tendered primary care contracts in competition with private sector companies.

Ben Bradshaw: We believe general practitioners (GPs) are fully able to tender to provide new primary care services for patients. We have asked primary care trusts to undertake open, fair and transparent procurements to ensure the fullest range of providers can bid, including existing GP practices. Many are planning to do this, for instance, in the East Midlands strategic health authority, around 70 per cent. of local GPs were successful in the early stages of the tendering process.

General Practitioners: Cornwall

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the income of each GP surgery in Cornwall came from subsidies for dispensing medicine in the latest period for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: Information is not collected centrally on individual general practitioner (GP) dispensing practices profits or income gained under the GP contract. Overall, dispensing GPs earned on average £127,061 in 2005-06, £20,000 more than non-dispensing GPs.

General Practitioners: Finance

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the Carr-Hill formula.

Ben Bradshaw: Partial publication of the Carr Hill formula is contained within the 'New GMS Contract 2003 Investing in General Practice', annex D 'Carr-Hill resource allocation formula' published December 2003 (copies of this publication are available in the Library) and also within the jointly agreed NHS employers and British Medical Association 'Review of the General Medical Services global sum formula' published 9 February 2007. Copies of this publication are available in the Library
	A full version of the Carr-Hill formula will now be made available for reference in the House of Commons Library.

Health Centres: Pharmacy

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mapping of the health services was conducted, and in particular the locations of pharmacies, in areas that have been identified as under-doctored or with health inequality before the decision was taken to introduce polyclinics.

Ben Bradshaw: None. It is primary care trusts that will determine where services are located depending on local needs and circumstances and following local consultation. The Department does not have a polyclinic policy. We are asking the local national health service to develop new general practitioner (GP)-led health centres for local communities that will improve local services and access for patients.

Hemel Hempstead Hospital: Maternity Services

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations his Department has received on the number of beds in maternity facilities at Hemel Hempstead Hospital; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The Department is not aware of any recent representations on maternity facilities in Hemel Hempstead since November 2007.
	More generally, on 25 January 2008, the Department announced an extra £330 million of funding for maternity services in England over the three years from April 2008. This will ensure that mothers will get the best possible care and will be guaranteed a full range of choices.

HIV Infection: Blood

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many haemophiliacs infected with HIV through contaminated blood products administered to them under NHS treatment  (a) are still alive and  (b) were still alive in (i) 2000, (ii) 2001, (iii) 2002, (iv) 2003, (v) 2004, (vi) 2005, (vii) 2006 and (viii) 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department does not collect the data requested. However, the United Kingdom Haemophilia Centres Doctors' Organisation has provided the following information:
	
		
			   Number of haemophiliacs (types A and B) infected with HIV  Total deaths reported during the year( 1) 
			 2000 484 23 
			 2001 461 14 
			 2002 447 14 
			 2003 433 9 
			 2004 424 9 
			 2005 415 9 
			 2006 406 7 
			 2007 399 6 
			 (1) This figure includes death by all causes for haemophilia A and B patients with HIV

Hospices: Finance

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding has been made available to hospices in  (a) Cornwall,  (b) each constituency in Cornwall,  (c) the south-west and  (d) England in each year since 1979.

Ivan Lewis: Information on national health service funding to hospices is not collected centrally.
	It is for individual primary care trusts (PCTs) to decide the level of funding they allocate to end of life care services, including hospices, based on assessments of local needs and priorities. The level of funding a hospice receives is a matter for negotiation between the local PCT and the hospice.

Hospitals: East of England

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what definition he uses of close geographical proximity; and whether Ipswich Hospital and the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital are in close geographical proximity according to the terms of that definition;
	(2)  what definition he uses of sparsely populated area; and whether  (a) Norfolk and  (b) Suffolk are such areas within the terms of his definition.

Ivan Lewis: The Department does not define 'close geographical proximity' or 'sparsely populated area'. These are matters for local national health service organisations to consider, in conjunction with their strategic health authorities and other stakeholders.
	The right hon. Member may therefore wish to raise these issues locally with the chief executive of Suffolk Primary Care Trust, or the chief executive of the East of England Strategic Health Authority.

Injuries: Offensive Weapons

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many persons aged  (a) under 16,  (b) between 16 and 18 and  (c) over 18 were admitted to hospital with (i) stab wounds and (ii) gunshot wounds in each strategic health authority area in each of the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: Information is collected on the number of finished admission episodes (FAEs) to hospital via accident and emergency (Accident and Emergency). A FAE is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.
	Tables have been placed in the Library which provide a breakdown of relevant data by strategic health authority.

Ipswich Hospital

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what status his Department classifies Ipswich hospital as; and when that status last changed.

Ivan Lewis: Ipswich hospital is a national health service trust and was established as such in November 1992, under the National Health Service and Community Care Act of 1990.

Medical Records: Data Protection

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who the data controller in respect of information stored on the secondary users database will be.

Ben Bradshaw: By reason of the relevant definition at Section 1 of the Data Protection Act 1998, the data controller for information held within the secondary uses service is currently the Secretary of State.

Medical Records: Data Protection

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons he has been designated as data controller in relation to personal data contained in a detailed care record.

Ben Bradshaw: Data Controller responsibilities are a matter of fact determined in any particular case in accordance with the relevant definition contained in the Data Protection Act 1998.
	In relation to the NHS care records service, the Secretary of State is a data controller for detailed care records in common with national health service organisations, which remain data controllers for information they hold about the patients for whom they provide care.
	The Secretary of State has taken on certain responsibilities, for example for ensuring that the network is operated in a secure manner, by virtue of holding the contract for the new systems.

Medical Records: Data Protection

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who the data controller will be in respect of information recorded in a patient's  (a) summary and  (b) detailed care record in cases where the record contains information provided separately by the patient to distinct legal entities which have different independent data controllers.

Ben Bradshaw: Data controller responsibilities are a matter of fact determined in any particular case in accordance with the relevant definition contained in the Data Protection Act 1998.
	The data controller for the summary care record is currently the Secretary of State. With regard to detailed care records, the Secretary of State is currently a data controller in common with national health service organisations, which remain data controllers for information they hold about the patients for whom they provide care.

Medical Records: Data Protection

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will bring forward legislative proposals to provide that the Secretary of State shall not be a data controller in relation to personal data processed on a detailed care record.

Ben Bradshaw: By reason of the relevant definition at Section 1 of the Data Protection Act 1998, the Secretary of State is already currently a data controller for detailed care records, in common with the national health service organisations which create the records in providing health care to patients.

Medical Records: Lost Property

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patient records were lost in each strategic health authority area in each of the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: While the Department provides comprehensive guidance on expected practice, the security of patient records is a local responsibility with local accountability. Information about the numbers of patient records that have been lost is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department issued guidance to the local national health service and other health bodies in February 2008 clarifying when details of incidents involving actual or potential data losses should be reported to strategic health authorities (SHAs). The SHAs are now required to publish details of reported incidents each quarter on their websites.

Mental Health Services

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much expenditure there was on Tier 4 and Tier 5 services for people with personality disorders in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement on the implementation of Policy Implementation Guidance for the Development of Services for People with Personality Disorder, NIMHE 2003.

Ivan Lewis: The overall expenditure by the national health service on tier 4 personality disorder services in 2005-06, the year for which the most recent data are available, was approximately £9.6 million. Information is not available on expenditure by the independent sector.
	In 2006-07, £8.45 million went into primary care trust (PCT) baselines in respect of tier 4 personality disorder services and those funds were fully spent on the services involved through service level agreements with commissioners.
	From 2007-08 (when baseline allocations were £9.14 million), many PCTs have elected to commission services for people with severe personality disorders on a cost-per-case basis (i.e. individual placements). There is therefore no information on the actual level of expenditure.
	Over the 2005-08 period, tier 5 NHS medium secure and community forensic services received £25.31 million. During this period, capital spending was £23.56 million. This revenue was devolved to local PCT and specialised commissioners for 2008-09.
	Following commitments in the 1997 election manifesto, the Government have implemented a range of initiatives to improve services to those with a personality disorder. Two distinct but linked programmes have resulted from new investment: Managing Dangerous Offenders with a severe Personality Disorder and Personality Disorder - No Longer a Diagnosis of Exclusion.
	These offer new interventions for the spectrum of patients in the population who pose a risk of harm either to themselves or to others as a result of their personality disorder. The effectiveness of our initiatives to improving services for the often hidden and excluded members of every local community will be significantly improved by the growing number of new and often innovative services for those with a personality disorder. The programmes also demonstrate a commitment to greater coherence and collaborative working between both Government agencies and public and independent services in the field.

Mental Health Services

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the  (a) levels of implementation and  (b) effectiveness of National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines for the treatment of (i) antenatal and post-natal mental health, (ii) anxiety, (iii) bipolar disorder, (iv) dementia, (v) depression, (vi) depression in children and young people, (vii) drug misuse: opioid detoxification, (viii) drug misuse: psychological interventions, (ix) eating disorders, (x) obsessive compulsive disorder, (xi) post-traumatic stress disorder, (xii) schizophrenia, (xiii) self-harm and (xiv) violent behaviour.

Ivan Lewis: An assessment of this nature has not been made. Compliance with clinical guidelines published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) forms part of the developmental standards for the national health service and NHS organisations are expected to move towards their full implementation.

Mental Health Services

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much was allocated by his Department for mental health in-reach teams in England for  (a) 2004 and  (b) 2007;
	(2)  what the reasons are for variations in regional allocations of funding per capita spending on mental health in-reach teams in prison facilities.

Ivan Lewis: The total amount allocated specifically to primary care trusts for national health service mental health in-reach services in prisons was £9.4 million in 2003-04. Since 2005-06, expenditure has been around £20 million each year.
	Regional variations in funding occur because of the different numbers and types of prisons situated in each area. For example, large city male prisons need greater per capita mental health investment because they contain higher levels of prisoners with acute mental health problems.

NHS: Fuels

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions his Department had with primary care trusts on the continued provision of fuel to NHS workers  (a) prior to and  (b) during the recent strike by tanker drivers.

Ben Bradshaw: The arrangements for accessing fuel for national health service workers are handled at the local level. The Department encourages all NHS organisations to establish contingency plans in line with business continuity management advice and guidance, of which the sourcing of fuel is one element. It is the responsibility of primary care trusts to put in place local arrangements to enable them to meet their responsibilities as Category 1 and 2 responders under the terms of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004.
	The Government have also established emergency provisions, as a part of the National Emergency Plan—Fuel, which can be invoked should the essential services be unable to obtain fuel.
	The Department liaised regularly across the NHS during the recent tanker drivers' strike to ensure that local contingency plans were being implemented effectively to respond to the crisis.

NHS: ICT

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish the outcomes of the health informatics review.

Ben Bradshaw: We plan to publish the outcomes of the review shortly.

NHS: Reorganisation

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to Lord Darzi's interim report, what assessment his review made of  (a) the need for (i) general practitioner-led health centres and (ii) new general practitioner practices in each primary care trust and  (b) the priority which primary care trusts should give to (A) additional expenditure on new services and (B) other assessed needs; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: As part of the NHS Next Stage review interim report and the comprehensive spending review process, we identified the need to secure additional resources for primary care trusts to:
	make progress in improving the health and care to the population with the greatest need and poorest services;
	to continue to improve access for patients to see a general practitioner at more convenient times; and
	to provide greater choice for patients in accessing primary medical care services.
	This new provision will also provide opportunities for primary care trusts (PCTs) to locally commission services that better enable tackling underlying causes of ill health, ensuring a greater focus on prevention, health promotion and integration of local services.
	It is for PCTs to develop the detailed service specification it requires locally based on local needs and circumstances and to commission this service through an open, fair and transparent process.

NHS: Reorganisation

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the dates are of the meetings he has had with the Prime Minister to discuss the NHS Reform Bill contained in the draft legislative programme for 2008-09.

Ben Bradshaw: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has regular meetings and discussions with ministerial colleagues and others on a wide range of subjects.

NHS: Standards

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what ways the Healthcare Commission supplements NHS trusts' self-assessments against core standard c15b; what sources of information the Healthcare Commission uses in such assessments; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Healthcare Commission supplements its self-assessments with feedback from local stakeholders. These include patient and public involvement forums, local authority overview and scrutiny committees, strategic health authorities and, in the case of national health service foundation trusts, boards of governors. They also use information from other regulatory bodies, NHS patient and staff surveys, and previous Healthcare Commission studies to cross-check NHS trusts declarations of performance.
	In addition, to validate the self-declaration process the Healthcare Commission inspect a sample of NHS trusts. The inspection guide for c15b is published on the Healthcare Commission's website.

Nursing and Midwifery Council

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take in response to the report of the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence on the performance of the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department is accelerating the process of moving towards a newly constituted council via reforms in the Nursing and Midwifery (Amendment) Order 2008, which will deliver a new, wholly appointed Council by the new year. This piece of legislation has already been endorsed by Parliament. In future, all Council members will be appointed rather than elected.
	The Department will also be passing on our concerns to the Privy Council, to consider whether any action on their part is appropriate.

Nutrition

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when he plans the Nutrition Action Plan Delivery Board to publish its final report; whether an interim progress report will be  (a) written and  (b) published; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what work the Nutrition Action Plan Delivery Board plans to undertake in  (a) 2009 and  (b) 2010.

Ivan Lewis: It is envisaged that the final report from the Nutrition Action Plan Delivery Board (NAPDB) on progress made against implementing the Nutrition Action Plan will be published at the end of 2008. An interim progress report from the NAPDB will be published in the summer.
	The Department will review whether to extend the NAPDB's existence beyond December 2008 upon consideration of their end of year report and any implications from that report.

Rampton Hospital

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much compensation staff at Rampton Special hospital have received from patients following prosecutions in the last five years.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is not held centrally. My hon. Friend may wish to approach the chief executive of the Nottinghamshire Healthcare National Health Service Trust who might be able to provide some of this information.

Rampton Hospital

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff are trained in restorative justice and conflict resolution techniques at Rampton Special hospital.

Ivan Lewis: Information is not held centrally on numbers of staff in national health service high security hospitals trained in restorative justice.
	Information on the number of staff undergoing conflict resolution training at Rampton High Security hospital is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The number of staff reported as having undergone conflict resolution training from April 2004 to December 2007 at the Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, which includes Rampton High Security hospital, was 2,960.
	 Source: NHS Security Management Service

Suicide

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take account of the suicide strategies in Scotland and Northern Ireland in  (a) assessments of and  (b) revisions to England's National Suicide Strategy.

Ivan Lewis: As part of our ongoing assessment of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England we will continue to take into account emerging evidence from international suicide prevention strategies including those in the United Kingdom.
	In addition, the five nations representing England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland have established a suicide prevention strategies coordinating group to share information, research and evidence on suicide prevention actions among the five nations. This group meets on a regular basis.
	I refer my right hon. Friend to the reply I gave her on 4 June 2008,  Official Report, column 1034W, on the plans for the future of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Africa: Diplomatic Service

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate has been made of the annual savings to his Department from the closures of the diplomatic posts in  (a) Mbabane, Swaziland,  (b) Maseru, Lesotho,  (c) Bamako, Mali and  (d) Antananarivo, Madagascar; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: It is estimated the annual savings listed in the following table, at 2008-09 values, were made from the closures of diplomatic posts in:
	
		
			  £ 
			 Mbabane, Swaziland 600,000 
			 Maseru, Lesotho 820,000 
			 Bamako, Mali 250,000 
			 Antananarivo, Madagascar 540,000 
		
	
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office continues to manage our overseas network to reflect changing demands and challenges, ensuring that our resources are aligned with our priorities and that the UK has a cost-effective and flexible network of overseas representation. We continue to keep UK representation in Africa under review and, where necessary, to make adjustments in individual countries to meet our operational needs.

Colombia: Capital Punishment

Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the number of civilians extra-judicially executed by Colombian security forces in the last 12 months.

Kim Howells: holding answer 20 June 2008
	 The annual report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Colombia for 2008 (A/HRC/39) details the persistence of extrajudicial executions attributed to members of the Colombian security forces, especially by members of the army. It also notes the Colombian Government's attempts to tackle this by strengthening control mechanisms, the political will of senior personnel to adopt measures to prevent, investigate and punish those responsible and new directives issued by the Colombian Ministry of Defence.
	I have outlined the Government's strong concern about extrajudicial killings to the Colombian Minister of Defence on a number of occasions and raised the subject with the Colombian President at the EU-Latin America and Caribbean summit in Lima in May 2008. We are matching this advocacy with practical help. The UK has been very active and influential in promoting human rights training and adherence in the Colombian armed forces and police. Further work in this area, funded by the UK Conflict Prevention Pool, will include helping the Colombian Government to eradicate extrajudicial killings and other human rights abuses and, equally importantly, to bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice.

Departmental Buildings

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the value of the property held by  (a) his Department and  (b) associated public bodies was at the most recent date for which figures are available.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and British Council 2006-07 annual resource accounts include the latest published valuations for the Estate of £1.27 billion and £85.6 million respectively; With the exception of the British Council, no other associated body (Executive Agency or Non-Departmental Public Body) holds property; FCO Services are co-located with the FCO, and Wilton Park is leased.

Ethiopia: Eritrea

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to Ethiopia to accept the ruling of the Eritrea-Ethiopian Boundary Commission; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: The UK's policy towards the Ethiopia-Eritrea border dispute is based on three principles: to avoid any return to war; for the border to be demarcated; and for the parties to normalise their relations. Ethiopia and Eritrea should agree a way forward to allow demarcation to proceed and for a normalisation process to begin, as set out in the Algiers Agreements of June 2000 and December 2000, signed by Ethiopia and Eritrea.
	We have set out this policy to both Ethiopia and Eritrea, including in November 2007 when my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met with Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin and when my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Baroness Vadera, and our ambassador in Addis Ababa met Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. My noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Lord Malloch-Brown, also conveyed these points to Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh in November 2007 and to Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles in January in Addis Ababa. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials continually reiterate these messages to both the Ethiopian and Eritrean ambassadors to London and to their interlocutors in the Governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea in Addis Ababa and Asmara respectively.
	We will continue to pursue the aforementioned policy with our international partners, including through the UN Security Council (UNSC). In this regard, we fully support UNSC Resolution 1798, adopted unanimously on 30 January and the UNSC's Presidential Statement of 30 April. We expect the parties to implement fully all the provisions of these, including those relating to demarcation of the border. We support all efforts of the UN with the parties, to which UK efforts are closely aligned.

Ethiopia: Eritrea

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effects of recent clashes along the Dijibouti-Eritrea border on the Ethiopian-Eritrean conflict; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: We supported the UN Security Council Presidential Statement of 12 June in condemning Eritrea's incursion and urging both sides to show maximum restraint.
	The clashes along the Djibouti-Eritrea border contribute to the instability in the Horn of Africa sub-region, although we have yet to see any direct effects of these clashes on the Ethiopian-Eritrean border situation.

Ethiopia: Eritrea

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking with their international partners to ensure that the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea is fully deployed; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: The UN Mission to Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) relocated from Eritrea on 19 May due to fuel restrictions placed on UNMEE in Eritrea by the Eritrean government. The UN Security Council (UNSC) had previously reiterated its condemnation of Eritrean action in a Presidential Statement dated 30 April.
	The future of UNMEE and a UN presence in Ethiopia and Eritrea is next scheduled to be discussed in the UNSC on 23 June.

Ethiopia: Eritrea

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government support the proposal in the UN Secretary General's report to the Security Council (S/2008/226) of a small observer mission to be deployed to the Ethiopia-Eritrea border area to defuse tensions between the armed forces of the two countries.

Meg Munn: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave today to parliamentary written question 212773, which lays out the Government's policy towards the Ethiopia-Eritrea border.
	We support all UN efforts to bring a resolution to this dispute. The effectiveness of any small observer mission deployed to the Ethiopia-Eritrean border to defuse tensions between the armed forces of the two countries would depend on the degree of co-operation from both parties.

Ethiopia: Eritrea

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the UK supports the proposal of a UN Special Envoy for Ethiopia and Eritrea; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave today to parliamentary written question 212773, which lays out the UK Government's policy towards the Ethiopia-Eritrea border.
	We support all UN efforts to bring a resolution to this dispute. The effectiveness of a UN Special Envoy for Ethiopia and Eritrea would depend on the degree of co-operation from both parties. The Government of Eritrea have, at times in the past, refused to meet with UN Special Envoys.

Iran: Israel

Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications for UK policy of President Ahmadinejad's remarks that celebrating Israel's 60th anniversary was like celebrating the birthday of a dead person.

Jim Murphy: The UK considers that President Ahmadinejad's recent comments are yet another example of his unacceptable and uncivilised approach to Israel which can only damage international confidence in Iran's willingness to act as a respectable member of the international community. The Government have consistently condemned the Iranian President's inflammatory comments about the State of Israel and his offensive statements about the Holocaust.
	Most recently on 9 May 2008 the EU presidency, with strong UK support, issued a statement condemning in the strongest possible terms the recent anti-Israeli comments made by the President of Iran. It called on President Ahmadinejad to stop hostile rhetoric and refrain from all threats to other states.

Iran: Israel

Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications for UK policy of President Ahmadinejad's comments at the World Food Summit that Israel is a false regime destined to disappear.

Jim Murphy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him today (parliamentary written question 212976).

Iran: Nuclear Power

Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of Russia's involvement in developing the Bushehr nuclear reactor in Iran.

Kim Howells: In 1976 the Shah of Iran contracted with a German company to build two nuclear power reactors at Bushehr. Before the first was completed, the Iranian Revolution of 1979 overthrew the Shah and led to the creation of the Islamic Republic of Iran. For many years construction was halted. After the Iran/Iraq War, Russia agreed in 1995 to fit one of their VVER-1000 power reactors into the original reactor building. This reactor, Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant-1, is now nearing completion. The Russians have secured a contract with Iran to supply the first 10 years worth of fresh fuel for the reactor and are willing to supply fuel for its lifetime. The Iranian authorities announced that the first shipment of low-enriched uranium from Russia was delivered to Bushehr on 17 December 2007.

Iran: Nuclear Power

Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the Iranian response to UN Security Council Resolution 1803.

Kim Howells: There has been no formal response from Iran to UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1803. The 3 June deadline in UNSCR 1803 for Iran to comply with the Security Council's demands has now passed. Iran has not suspended its enrichment-related activities, or granted the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) the greater access it seeks, as the IAEA Director General's latest report made clear. A generous engagement package was delivered to Tehran by Javier Solana and five E3+3 Political Directors on 14 June. We hope for a rapid, positive response. If this is not forthcoming, we will push forward on new, tougher sanctions, including a new UNSCR.

Iran: Nuclear Power

Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the state of the Iranian nuclear programme.

Jim Murphy: Dr Mohammad El Baradei, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), reported on 26 May that Iran had failed to suspend enrichment-related activities, had made no progress on the transparency measures the UN Security Council (UNSC) and IAEA have long called for and had failed to answer the IAEA's questions relating to studies with a possible military dimension. Dr El Baradei said that these studies were a "matter of serious concern". On 8 April, Iranian President Ahmadinejad announced that Iran would increase the number of centrifuges from 3,000 to 6,000. Dr El Baradei has criticised this development. The Government agree with him that it is essential that Iran suspends its enrichment-related activities in accordance with its obligations to the UNSC. Unless Iran does so, the international community will have no confidence that Iran's nuclear programme is of an entirely civilian nature. We have called on Iran to provide answers to the IAEA's questions immediately. There is no justification for further delay.

Iran: Nuclear Power

Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his latest assessment is of the threat posed to regional security by Iran's nuclear programme.

Kim Howells: Iran's nuclear programme, which continues in breach of four UN Security Council Resolutions, threatens the stability of the region. By continuing with an enrichment programme for which we can see no apparent civilian purpose and in the face of clear international concern, Iran is doing little to address the serious lack of confidence in its assertions that its intentions are exclusively peaceful—a fact that the International Atomic Energy Agency continues to say it cannot verify. We have a close and ongoing dialogue with our regional allies on the issue and will be working with them in the coming months to increase the pressure on Iran to comply with its international obligations.

Iran: Sanctions

Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions his Department has had with  (a) the EU,  (b) the US Administration and  (c) the UN on proposals to extend sanctions against Iran.

Kim Howells: We are in constant contact with EU and E3+3 colleagues on the Iranian nuclear issue. The Government will continue to work closely with EU partners to pass further measures as soon as possible, including the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1803 in the EU. Discussions are continuing in Brussels and I will inform the House when these have been agreed. We are also discussing with US and EU partners a range of additional sanctions on Iran, including in the oil and gas sector. We will be seeking a new UNSCR in the coming months if Iran does not give a rapid, positive response to the E3+3's generous offer, delivered to Tehran on 14 June by Javier Solana.

Iraq: Christianity

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the treatment of Christians in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 23 June 2008
	 Like all sectors of Iraqi society, the Christian community has been affected by the unacceptable level of violence in Iraq which continues despite improvements in the overall security environment. Our diplomatic missions and my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's Special Envoy on Human Rights in Iraq, my right hon. Friend the Member for Cynon Valley (Ann Clwyd), regularly raise with the Government of Iraq the need for adequate protection of all minority groups.
	Progress on national reconciliation is the fundamental requirement to create a sustainable and secure environment for all Iraqis and we continue to support the Government of Iraq to achieve that goal.

Israel: Human Rights

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the appointment of Professor Richard Falk by the UN Human Rights Council as the investigator of alleged human rights violations by Israel.

Kim Howells: holding answer 20 June 2008
	 With UK support, Richard Falk was appointed as Special Rapporteur by the President of the UN Human Rights Council during its seventh session. Professor Falk made his first appearance at the UN Human Rights Council on 16 June when he presented his first report. We regularly raise a range of human rights issues with the Israeli Government such as the impact of border crossing closures, their conduct of security operations, the construction of illegal settlements and the barrier in the West Bank.

Maldives: Elections

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what  (a) financial and  (b) technical assistance the Government are giving to support the Presidential elections in the Maldives in October 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The UK is co-financing Commonwealth technical assistance to the Maldivian Government to improve the Maldives' electoral legislative framework. Separately, we are funding a Maldivian non-governmental organisation voter education programme, and through the BBC World Service Trust, training for journalists in election reporting. The UK also fully supports the work of the EU electoral expert seconded to the Maldivian Election Commission. Free, fair and credible elections are a crucial element of democratic reform in the Maldives. When my noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch-Brown, met President Gayoom on 11 June, he reiterated the UK's support for the elections and democracy in the Maldives.

Pakistan: Foreign Relations

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in Pakistan.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary is in regular contact with Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on a wide range of issues. Pakistan remains a priority for UK foreign policy. In April 2008 my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary visited Pakistan where he met Foreign Minister Qureshi, and they last spoke in person on 12 June 2008 at the Afghanistan conference in Paris.

Rwanda: Official Visits

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who the members were of the delegation that accompanied Rwandan President Paul Kagame on his visit to the UK in May.

Meg Munn: holding answer 20 June 2008
	 President Paul Kagame of Rwanda came to the UK by invitation of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to attend the Millennium Development Goals Call to Action event. The principal members of his delegation were Foreign Affairs Minister Rosemary Museminali and Rwandan ambassador to the UK Claver Gatete. A number of policy and security advisers accompanied the delegation along with security and support staff.

Treaty of Lisbon: Referendums

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the Government have had with other EU member state Governments on the recent Irish referendum.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 24 June 2008
	 My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made a statement to the House on 16 June 2008, Offi cial Report, columns 704-05, on the Irish referendum.
	My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made a statement to the House on 23 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 23-26, following the European Council in Brussels from 19-20 June.

United Arab Emirates: Prisoners

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government have taken to secure the release of those arrested in 2008 as a result of United Arab Emirates (UAE) enforcement initiatives; whether the Government have made representations to the UAE Government seeking clemency for those imprisoned; and what account is taken of the length of time spent in custody in making such representations.

Kim Howells: holding answer 18 June 2008
	It is a matter for the United Arab Emirates authorities to decide on their policy with respect to the import and possession of drugs. We cannot interfere in the judicial process of another country, just as we would not expect another country to interfere in ours. We cannot get people out of prison or detention, nor can we secure special treatment for them because of their nationality.
	Our primary concern is the welfare of British nationals detained overseas. We will consider approaching the local authorities where a trial does not follow internationally accepted standards of practice, where a British detainee has a justified complaint of ill treatment against the local authorities or where welfare questions, for example dietary and medical issues of a British detainee, are raised with us.
	We can only consider supporting pardon or clemency pleas in three very specific situations: where there are compelling compassionate circumstances, such as where a prisoner or close family member is chronically ill or dying; in cases of minors detained overseas; and, as a last resort, in cases where we have evidence that seems to point to a miscarriage of justice.
	Our commitment to consular confidentiality and the Data Protection Act prevents us from providing specific examples about the cases of individuals.

Zimbabwe: Elections

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on bringing pressure to bear on the Zimbabwe Government to conduct free and fair elections.

Meg Munn: My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary discussed the elections in Zimbabwe with other Heads of Government and Foreign Ministers at the European Council from 19-20 June. Ministers are in regular contact with EU counterparts to discuss the situation in Zimbabwe and, in particular, the state-sponsored violence and intimidation which have marked the current electoral process.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the Answer of 5 June 2008,  Official Report, column 1129W, on Afghanistan, what the breakdown is of the unit cost of £250,000 for a member of his Department's staff to be based in Afghanistan.

Douglas Alexander: The annual cost of a DFID Afghanistan UK member of staff based in Afghanistan varies according to grade. The average annual cost is £240,643, which includes start up and end of tour costs, security, salary, pension contributions and national insurance payments, hardship and cost of living allowances, travel and accommodation costs.
	The breakdown is as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 Security 96,072 
			 Salary, pension and NI 62,471 
			 Allowances (including travel) 40,600 
			 Accommodation 21,400 
			 Start up and end of tour costs 20,100 
			 Total 240,643 
		
	
	Due to efficiency savings the unit cost of security has fallen since the original estimate, which was based on average costs over 2007. This has resulted in an approximate saving of £10,000.

Afghanistan: Reconstruction

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding the Government plan to allocate to the Afghanistan reconstruction plan agreed at the Paris conference; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: In recognition of the scale of the development and stabilisation challenges that continue to face Afghanistan, the UK Government will provide over £800 million to Afghanistan in support to the five-year period of the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS), between 2008-09 and 2012-13. This includes a further £613 million in reconstruction and development assistance in addition to the £500 million we committed at the London Conference in January 2006. This brings the amount pledged or spent by the UK on reconstruction and development assistance to Afghanistan since 2001 to over £1.65 billion.

Africa: Health Professions

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is considering for implementing the March 2008 Global Health Workforce Alliance Kampala Declaration and Agenda for Global Action; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The Kampala Declaration and Agenda for Global Action call on bilateral leaders to provide co-ordinated and coherent support to formulate and implement comprehensive country health work force strategies and plans; to provide dependable, sustained and adequate financial support; and to give high priority and adequate funding to train and recruit sufficient health personnel from within their own country.
	The Department for International Development (DFID) provides flexible funding to back national plans and priorities and to help strengthen health systems as a whole in the countries in which it works. UK health spend in developing countries was £750 million in 2006-07. Addressing the shortage of health workers in these countries is a high priority. The UK Government are also making a concerted effort to mobilise the international community to take action to address the global shortage of health workers.
	The UK has had a code of practice for several years governing the international recruitment of health workers. We are now working with the Global Health Workforce Alliance towards a global code of practice. The UK has over the last few years increased the numbers of its own health professionals through new recruitment and training and getting previously qualified staff back to work in the national health service (NHS).

Asia: Unemployment

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent estimate his Department has made of the level of youth unemployment in western and central Asia; and what steps his Department is taking to tackle joblessness in western and central Asian countries as a contribution towards the achievement of millennium development goal 8.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development (DFID) is committed to the achievement of the millennium development goals, including goal 8 and the new target 1.B, focusing on full and productive employment and decent work for all. DFID assistance programmes recognise that in southern and central Asia, youth unemployment is approximately twice that of adult unemployment(1), requiring specific measures to stimulate growth.
	In the short term, DFID supports a number of programmes that provide employment and income generation opportunities. These focus on the poorest, youth, women and disadvantaged groups—helping them take the first steps out of poverty. In Afghanistan, DFID has provided £18 million for the National Emergency Employment Programme, creating 5.8 million labour-days of employment. In India, DFID finances five major programmes that support rural employment with a total budget of £152.5 million. For example the Madhya Pradesh Rural Livelihoods Project (phase 1 £16.6 million, 2004-07; phase 2 £45 million 2007-12) works with the Government's National Rural Employment Generation Scheme (NREGS) and has already helped 66,400 households in tribal areas. In Nepal, DFID's Rural Access Programme has created almost seven million labour days for over 100,000 people, through labour intensive rural infrastructure development and an additional £27.5 million has just been approved for follow on programmes that, with other donors, will provide an additional 22.3 million days of employment.
	DFID is also involved in a number of programmes that more directly promote employment. For example in the Kyrgyz Republic, we are supporting the National Village Investment Programme, which has created over 5,000 jobs. In Nepal we have supported a UN programme that has helped 25,000 entrepreneurs from poor and excluded groups. This has increased the participants' incomes threefold, lifting them out of poverty. In Bangladesh, we also provide £11.8 million to the Katalyst Programme, which supports the private sector to develop small to medium enterprises, aiming to create around 730,000 jobs by 2013.

Departmental Buildings

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has spent on  (a) new capital investment and  (b) refurbishment of departmental property in each of the last 10 years, broken down by project.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development does not have detailed records for the last 10 years; the earliest detailed data we have are for the calendar year 2002.
	Capital investment since 2002, by year and project, was as follows:
	
		
			  Country  Description  Year purchased  Purchase cost (£) 
			 Malawi House purchases 2002 350,000.00 
			 Malawi House purchase 2004 51,724.00 
			 Yemen New embassy in Sanaa 2005 425,000.00 
			 Uganda New Office in Uganda 2007 2,916,003.00 
			 Ethiopia New office building 2007 1,078,125.00 
			 Zambia House purchase 2008 £401,762.00 
			 Yemen House purchase 2008 56,499.00 
		
	
	Refurbishment projects since 2002, by year and project, were as follows:
	
		
			  Country  Description  Year purchased  Cost (£) 
			 UK—Abercrombie House Office refurbishment 2002 3,004,699.00 
			 India Office refurbishment 2002 24,339.00 
			 South Africa Office refurbishment 2002 2,747.00 
			 Italy—Rome Office refurbishment 2002 5,703.00 
			 UK—Palace Street Office refurbishment 2002 23,545.00 
			 South Africa Office refurbishment 2003 2,761.00 
			 UK—Palace Street Office refurbishment 2003 1,509,169.00 
			 Italy—Rome Office refurbishment 2003 20,244.00 
			 UK—Abercrombie House Office refurbishment 2003 9,433,797.00 
			 India Office refurbishment 2003 4,376.00 
			 Bangladesh Office refurbishment 2004 408,979.56 
			 UK—Palace Street Office refurbishment 2004 264,302.00 
			 Ethiopia Office refurbishment 2004 16,352.00 
			 Barbados Office refurbishment 2004 32,559.00 
			 Yemen Office refurbishment 2004 5,393.00 
			 UK—Abercrombie House Office refurbishment 2004 3,805,677.00 
			 Malawi House refurbishments 2004 17,694.00 
			 UK—Palace Street Office refurbishment 2005 414,987.87 
			 Nigeria Office refurbishment 2005 52,164.00 
			 Bangladesh Office refurbishment 2005 26,981.00 
			 Barbados Office refurbishment 2005 15,113.00 
			 Pakistan Office refurbishment 2005 603,224.00 
			 UK—Abercrombie House Office refurbishment 2005 893,763.00 
			 Dem Rep of Congo Office refurbishment 2005 391,890.00 
			 Malawi House refurbishments 2005 38,206.00 
			 Sudan Office refurbishment 2005 76,028.00 
			 Sierra Leone Office refurbishment 2005 151,327.00 
			 Dem Rep of Congo Office refurbishment 2006 27,616.00 
			 Malawi House refurbishments 2006 3,274.00 
			 Pakistan Office refurbishment 2006 1,188,958.00 
			 UK—Abercrombie House Office refurbishment 2006 58,774.00 
			 Sierra Leone Office refurbishment 2006 22,219.00 
			 Kosovo Office refurbishment 2006 22,915.00 
			 Afghanistan House refurbishments 2006 151,248.00 
			 Bolivia Office refurbishment 2006 6,211.00 
			 Sudan Office refurbishment 2006 646,499.00 
			 Cambodia Office refurbishment 2006 45,011.00 
			 UK—Palace Street Office refurbishment 2006 18,206.00 
			 Bangladesh Office refurbishment 2006 58,511.00 
			 Nicaragua Office refurbishment 2006 58,221.00 
			 UK—Palace Street Office refurbishment 2006 99,211.00 
			 Jamaica Office refurbishment 2006 5,196.00 
			 Rwanda House refurbishments 2006 4,058.00 
			 Sierra Leone Office refurbishment 2007 60,541.00 
			 Afghanistan House refurbishments 2007 323,230.00 
			 UK—Abercrombie House Office refurbishment 2007 43,497.00 
			 Rwanda House refurbishments 2007 74,319.00 
			 Malawi House refurbishments 2007 70,565.00 
			 UK—Palace Street Office refurbishment 2007 45,065.00 
			 Zambia Office refurbishment 2007 16,160.00 
			 Cambodia House refurbishments 2007 16,000.00 
			 Nicaragua Office refurbishment 2007 6,342.00 
			 Jamaica Office refurbishment 2007 37,306.00 
			 Ghana Office refurbishment 2007 4,764.00 
			 South Africa Office refurbishment 2007 24,753.00 
			 Ethiopia Office refurbishment 2007 59,396.00 
			 South Africa Office refurbishment 2007 17,483.00 
			 Nepal Office refurbishment 2007 42,513.00 
			 Sudan Office refurbishment 2007 1,385,845.00 
			 Malawi House refurbishments 2007 111,909.00 
			 Nigeria Office refurbishment 2007 4,257.00 
			 Ghana Office refurbishment 2007 5,317.00 
			 Malawi House refurbishments 2008 1,204.00 
			 UK—Abercrombie House Office refurbishment 2008 62,771.00 
			 Indonesia Office refurbishment 2008 3,055.00 
			 Burma Office refurbishment 2008 28,139.00 
			 Sudan Office refurbishment 2008 376,570.00 
			 Malawi House refurbishments 2008 20,390.00 
			 UK—Palace Street Office refurbishment 2008 211,434.00 
			 Cambodia House refurbishments 2008 1,140.00 
			 South Africa Office refurbishment 2008 26,919.00 
			 Nepal Office refurbishment 2008 29,520.00 
			 Dem Rep of Congo Office refurbishment 2008 351,984.00 
			 Zambia House refurbishments 2008 11,879.00

Developing Countries: Solar Power

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the potential of concentrating solar power technology to assist the fulfilment of the millennium development goals in the middle east and North Africa.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development (DFID) supports the use of concentrating solar power technology where appropriate as part of low carbon development ways to achieve millennium development goals (MDGs). DFID has not made a direct assessment of the potential of concentrating solar power technology to assist the fulfilment of the MDGs in the middle east and north Africa.
	DFID provides core funds to key multilateral institutions including the European Commission, World Bank, International Finance Corporation and the European Investment Bank. These multilaterals are best placed to assist the region given their extensive experience and expertise in renewable energy, and the large financial resources they can provide directly and lever from others. For example, the World Bank has conducted an assessment of the World Bank/global environment facility strategy for the market development of concentrating solar thermal power, and is currently supporting solar thermal projects in Morocco and Egypt. The European Commission's Neighbourhood Investment Facility (NIF) is currently conducting a feasibility study for a concentrated solar power plant in Tunisia.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Funding

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with the Democratic Unionist Party about funding for Northern Ireland.

Shaun Woodward: I have regular meetings with all the Northern Ireland political parties covering a range of issues relating to Northern Ireland, including funding.

Security

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the security situation in Northern Ireland.

Shaun Woodward: While the latest IMC report indicated that PIRA remain fully committed to pursuing the political path, the threat from dissident republicans is, as the Chief Constable indicated, at its highest level for five years. Loyalists continue to make progress, but the issue of decommissioning remains unresolved. As I indicated recently, legal routes to decommissioning and the protection that comes with them cannot remain indefinitely.

Historical Enquiries Team

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made by the Historical Enquiries Team in reviewing unsolved murder cases in Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins: The Historical Enquiries Team (HET) have opened 1,150 of the 3,268 eligible cases and of these 363 have been completed. The majority of families engaging with HET have found the process helpful and they have welcomed the opportunity to have often long standing questions addressed.

Defence Estates Sales

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans there are for the proceeds of defence estates sales to accrue to the Northern Ireland Executive.

Shaun Woodward: The Government are committed to working with the Executive to ensure that disused military sites are effectively disposed of and developed.

Sesame Tree

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will meet Sesame Tree to discuss its work.

Paul Goggins: I have no current plans to meet with Sesame Tree, the Northern Ireland version of Sesame Street. Culture and community relations are transferred matters and are now the responsibility of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.

Domestic Abuse: Women Pensioners

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent assessment he has made of the levels of domestic abuse and violence against women pensioners in Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins: In 2007-08, 165 women aged over 60 years reported domestic violence in Northern Ireland.
	The Northern Ireland Office continues to work in partnership with local Ministers to tackle domestic violence at every level.

McGurk's Bar Bombing

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the conclusions of the Historical Enquiries Team into the McGurk's Bar bombing.

Shaun Woodward: The House will want to recognise the personal pain for the hon. Gentleman and his family; I know he lost his great uncle in the bombing. Although I cannot speak for those Ministers who made statements at the time, I personally am sorry for the hurt that was made worse by the erroneous reporting of responsibility for the explosion.

IRA Army Council

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the process of dismantling the IRA Army Council.

Shaun Woodward: I am sure that everybody looks forward to the day when all vestiges of Northern Ireland's paramilitary history, including the Army Council, have been relegated to where they belong—the past.

Crimes of Violence

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland were convicted of assault in which the victim was  (a) a female partner,  (b) a male partner,  (c) a child and  (d) one of their own children in each of the last three years.

Paul Goggins: The information is not available in the format requested. Northern Ireland conviction data do not include victim information in relation to the commission of an offence, therefore it is not possible to determine the number of convictions for assault of a female or male partner or the total number of convictions for assault of a child irrespective of relationship to the offender.
	A wider range of information on the incidence and impact of domestic violence is available from the Northern Ireland Crime Survey at:
	http://www.nio.gov.uk/experienee_of_domestic_violence_ findings_from_the_2005_northern_ireland_crime_ survey.pdf
	and from PSNI Statistics at
	http://www.psni.police.uk/2._domestic_incidents_and crimes-5.pdf.
	It is possible to give the number of convictions for those offences which, in their definition, refer to a child or children. These are 'common assault on child or young person' and 'aggravated assault on male child'.
	The data provided in the following table cover the calendar years 2004 to 2006 (the latest available years) and are collated on the principal offence rule; so only the most serious offence with which an offender is charged is included.
	
		
			  Number of convictions for assault of a child 2004-06( 1) 
			   Convictions 
			 2004 12 
			 2005 8 
			 2006 7 
			 (1) Data do not include sexual offences against a child or children.

Northern Ireland Executive

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland First Minister on Government funding of the Northern Ireland Executive.

Shaun Woodward: I have regular discussions with the First Minister and deputy First Minister covering a range of issues relating to Northern Ireland, including finance.

TREASURY

Child Benefit: Personal Records

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in the police investigation into the whereabouts of the 25 million missing child benefit records.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Member to the statement my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer made today.

Construction Industry Scheme: Complaints

Brian Binley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints about online payments under the construction industry scheme were received by HM Revenue and Customs between April 2007 and March 2008.

Jane Kennedy: HM Revenue and Customs does not collect specific information on complaints about online payments made under the construction industry scheme.

Data Protection

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 30 April 2008,  Official Report, column 474W, on data protection, on how many occasions official advice has been sought of data guardians since their introduction.

Jane Kennedy: Details on the number of requests made to data guardians for advice are not available, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Data Protection

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 30 April 2008,  Official Report, column 474W, on data protection, how many hours of security training each data guardian has received.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 28 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1938W.
	HMRC has continued to monitor the data guardians' training needs since their introduction, and will reflect these in any future training events.

Data Protection

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 30 April 2008,  Official Report, column 474W, on data protection, on how many occasions data guardians have reported insufficient  (a) security procedures and  (b) attention paid to security procedures in place.

Jane Kennedy: Information is not available in the format requested.

Departmental Buildings

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how frequently his Department restates the asset values of its building estate.

Angela Eagle: The accounting policy regarding revaluation of building estate is disclosed in note 1.4 of the Treasury's annual report and accounts 2006-07 (HC 518). Copies of this document can be found at:
	hm-treasury.gov.uk/about/departmental_reports/annual_report07.cfm.

Departmental Vetting

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what procedures his Department follows for checking the criminal records of employees; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what percentage of successful applicants for jobs in his Department are subjected to a criminal records check; how many  (a) successful applicants and  (b) criminal records checks there were in each of the last 10 years; how many successful applicants were found to have a criminal record after a criminal records check took place in each of the last 10 years; whether the selection of successful candidates to be subjected to a criminal records check is random or targeted; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: All successful applicants for posts in HM Treasury are required to undergo appropriate security vetting procedures, including criminal record checks. The other detailed information requested can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Members: Correspondence

Owen Paterson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for North Shropshire of 14 May, on corporation tax.

Jane Kennedy: I replied to the hon. Member on 24 June 2008.

Revenue and Customs: Closures

Philip Dunne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many HM Revenue and Customs offices have been closed in  (a) urban areas and  (b) rural areas since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: HM Revenue and Customs does not maintain office records categorised by urban and rural areas as they are not standard property management classifications.

Revenue and Customs: Data Protection

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he was first told of the loss of a data cartridge in the Cardiff office of HM Revenue and Customs containing the details of 6,500 people.

Jane Kennedy: The loss of the data cartridge was formally reported to senior managers in HMRC on 29 October 2007 and Ministers were first informed of the loss at the beginning of November 2007 by the former Chairman of HMRC.

Revenue and Customs: Data Protection

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent additional training has been provided to staff in HM Revenue and Customs to assist them in implementing revised data security policies and procedures.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 28 February 2008,  Official Report, columns 1937-38W, which explained that each HMRC business unit has appointed a data guardian to monitor its data handling and transfer arrangements. Support has already been provided to these data guardians in the form of awareness events, written material and access to HMRC security specialists. HMRC will continue to assess the data guardians' ongoing training requirements.
	HMRC is also currently part way through a programme of mandatory half-day data security training and awareness workshops. Current plans envisage every single member of the Department having attended a workshop before the end of June.

Revenue and Customs: Data Protection

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what additional funding has been provided to HM Revenue and Customs for the implementation of the revised data security procedures introduced in the wake of the child benefit data loss;
	(2)  what additional  (a) funding and  (b) staffing will be required to implement revised data security policies and procedures in HM Revenue and Customs following the child benefit data loss; and what (i) secure storage facilities and (ii) other measures will be required for that implementation.

John McDonnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost of implementation of data security policies and procedures introduced by HM Revenue and Customs following the loss of child benefit data.

Jane Kennedy: All costs incurred to date have been contained within HMRC's existing funding allocations. These costs have arisen from the range of measures HMRC has introduced since November 2007 to enhance its data security procedures, and are highlighted in Kieran Poynter's final report published today. A copy of the report is available in the Library of the House.

Revenue and Customs: Manpower

Philip Dunne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the net change has been in the number of full-time equivalent HM Revenue and Customs posts within each parliamentary constituency since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: This information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Revenue and Customs: North West

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what savings HM Revenue and Customs expects to make from the closure of Chorley HM Revenue and Customs office and the movement of staff; and what the annual running cost was of the HMRC offices in  (a) Chorley,  (b) Bolton,  (c) Southport and  (d) Blackburn in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: Most of HMRC's business units, including those with staff currently employed in Chorley, can operate more effectively by co-locating teams in a smaller number of locations, allowing more efficient work processes to be introduced. There will be some specific costs attached to the relocation of staff from one office to another, but the efficiency savings resulting from HMRC's overall restructuring cannot be realistically apportioned to individual offices.
	The fixed accommodation running costs for the offices at Lingmell House Chorley, Stone Cross House Bolton, Dukes House Southport and Chaucer's Walk Blackburn are as follows:
	
		
			  Total cash running costs (net of VAT), 2007-08 
			  Office  £ 
			 Chorley 203,739.32 
			 Bolton 633,835.98 
			 Southport 343,815.60 
			 Blackburn 299,890.68 
		
	
	These costs are made up of the facility price (FP) for the provision (by Mapeley) of the serviced accommodation at these addresses, the business rates, services and the utilities for each year.
	Individual business units are allocated budgets to meet their total costs and overheads for all their staff. The Chorley HMRC office currently houses staff from four different business units and to break down the costs of each business unit to individual office level could be done only at disproportionate cost.

Revenue and Customs: Peterhead

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much in  (a) direct and  (b) indirect taxes was (i) collected and (ii) administered by the HM Revenue and Customs office in Peterhead in each year since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Dundee, East (Stewart Hosie) on 24 June 2008,  Official Report, column 258W.

Revenue and Customs: Peterhead

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff were based at HM Revenue and Customs and its predecessor organisations' office in Peterhead in each year since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: HM Revenue and Customs (previously the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise) have not retained records of the staff numbers at Peterhead before the 1 April 2002.
	The staff in post figures for Keith House, Peterhead, for the last seven years is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Date as at 1 April each year  Full-time equivalent  Headcount 
			 2008 15.4 18 
			 2007 17.59 20 
			 2006 20.2 23 
			 2005 23.5 26 
			 2004 21.34 23 
			 2003 24.6 27 
			 2002 28.01 29

Share Fishermen

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer from which HM Revenue and Customs offices the Share Fisherman's Scheme is administered; and how much duty was collected from this scheme in each of the last five years, broken down by location.

Jane Kennedy: The Share Fisherman's Scheme is administered by two HM Revenue and Customs' offices: for England, Wales and Northern Ireland it is administered by a fishing unit based in Newton Abbot and for Scotland by a fishing unit based in Peterhead.
	Payments received under the scheme in the last five years are as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			   England, Wales and NI  Scotland 
			 2003 924,330 8,784,956 
			 2004 1,149,963 5,254,087 
			 2005 1,510,180 4,636,486 
			 2006 1,594,124 4,804,904 
			 2007 1,924,492 4,540,353

Valuation Office: Data Protection

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether there have been data security breaches at the Valuation Office Agency in the last 36 months.

Jane Kennedy: Details of information management procedures at the Valuation Office Agency, including any incidents related to protected personal data since 2004, will be included in the Agency's annual report for 2007-08 which will be published shortly.

Valuation Office: Digital Mapping

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 8 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1092W, on the Valuation Office: digital mapping, for what reasons the agency no longer plays an active role in the development of the digital national framework; and when it stopped playing an active role.

Jane Kennedy: The Valuation Office Agency ('VOA') switched from an active role in the development of the digital national framework ('DNF') to becoming a correspondence member in August 2005. Since that time VOA and Ordnance Survey have developed a closer working relationship, addressing VOA requirements that had previously been fulfilled by attendance at the DNF expert group meetings.

Welfare Tax Credits: Complaints

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many complaints about tax credits have been dealt with by the Adjudicator's Office in each of the last two years; and of those how many took  (a) over six months but less than one year and  (b) more than one year to resolve;
	(2)  what the average length of time taken by the Adjudicator's Office to complete an investigation of a complaint regarding tax credits has been in each year since the inception of tax credits.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC does not hold this specific information in the requested format.
	The Adjudicator, who acts as a fair and unbiased referee looking into complaints about HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), including the Tax Credit Office (TCO), keeps their own information on the complaints they deal with.
	Available information on the Adjudicator's Office is published in her annual reports which are available at: www.adjudicatorsoffice.gov.uk/publications.htm The Adjudicator expects to publish her 2008 report in July 2008.

Welfare Tax Credits: Overpayments

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to ensure that Tax Credit offices do not continue to demand recovery of disputed over-payments from families whilst the Adjudicator's Office is investigating the dispute.

Jane Kennedy: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (Danny Alexander) on 18 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1491W.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Breast Cancer

David Crausby: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many breast cancer cases were diagnosed in each strategic health authority region in each of the last 11 years; and how many deaths from breast cancer there were in each year.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 25 June 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many breast cancer cases were diagnosed, and how many deaths from breast cancer there were, in each strategic health authority region in each of the last 11 years.
	The most recent available figures for cancer incidence are for 2005. Figures requested are given in Table 1. The most recent available figures for cancer deaths are for 2006. Figures requested are given in Table 2.
	
		
			  Table 1: Registrations of newly diagnosed cases of breast cancer( 1) , by sex and strategic health authority, 1995  to  2005 
			  SHA  1995  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			  Male
			 England 213 196 229 258 259 215 229 254 289 272 250 
			 
			 North East 7 6 11 10 13 9 16 17 15 14 17 
			 North West 29 30 31 30 24 30 29 32 35 36 35 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 20 19 23 24 30 22 14 17 31 30 20 
			 East Midlands 9 14 17 19 12 9 8 22 26 24 18 
			 West Midlands 26 17 20 36 27 27 31 29 26 29 23 
			 East of England 31 21 32 31 26 22 29 24 28 38 21 
			 London 24 26 26 31 31 32 24 33 37 24 41 
			 South East Coast 21 15 20 22 30 21 16 20 21. 27 21 
			 South Central 21 19 18 19 23 14 27 16 22 21 19 
			 South West 25 29 31 36 43 29 35 44 48 29 35 
			 
			  Female
			 England 30,820 31,452 33,480 33,856 35,425 34,712 35,315 35,149 37,283 36,938 38,212 
			 
			 North East 1,368 1,543 1,546 1,683 1,668 1,698 1,746 1,729 1,944 1,960 1,968 
			 North West 4,277 4,241 4,290 4,547 4,647 4,734 4,948 4,823 5,004 5,232 5,323 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 2,935 2,980 3,172 3,145 3,420 3,396 3,437 3,457 3,725 3,662 3,844 
			 East Midlands 2,477 2,577 2,620 2,765 2,967 2,986 3,004 3,046 3,296 3,521 3,375 
			 West Midlands 3,254 3,323 3,517 3,619 3,662 3,739 3,746 3,839 3,991 3,984 4,224 
			 East of England 3,464 3,554 4,015 3,838 4,048 3,870 3,888 3,964 4,122 4,035 4,310 
			 London 3,985 3,996 4,352 4,222 4,208 4,114 4,115 4,104 4,306 3,838 4,139 
			 South East Coast 3,039 2,965 3,324 3,257 3,189 3,221 3,318 3,188 3,300 3,173 3,282 
			 South Central 2,544 2,743 2,736 2,756 2,938 2,811 2,768 2,806 3,015 2,975 3,128 
			 South West 3,477 3,530 3,908 4,024 4,678 4,143 4,345 4,193 4,580 4,558 4,619 
			 (1) Breast cancer is coded to C50 in the International Classification of Diseases 10(th) Revision (1CD-10)  Source: Office for National Statistics 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of deaths where breast cancer was the underlying cause of death, by sex and strategic health authority (SHA)( 1) , 1996  to  2006( 2) 
			  SHA  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			  Male
			 England 63 66 73 62 68 77 79 64 53 78 59 
			 
			 North East 5 3 4 3 2 2 7 6 2 3 5 
			 North West 6 7 7 12 7 10 8 7 6 6 9 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 5 9 9 9 6 7 7 5 8 5 6 
			 East Midlands 4 7 5 7 3 15 12 4 7 10 7 
			 West Midlands 9 4 12 8 13 10 9 8 3 13 9 
			 East of England 6 10 9 4 7 5 8 9 6 8 4 
			 London 6 8 8 9 4 11 9 9 5 11 9 
			 South East Coast 5 7 9 4 9 6 8 1 6 9 2 
			 South Central 6 2 1 3 7 4 7 8 3 7 2 
			 South West 11 9 9 3 10 7 4 7 7 6 6 
			 
			  Female
			 England 11,471 11,255 11,025 10,803 10,631 10,860 10,795 10,501 10,288 10,297 10,243 
			 
			 North East 575 607 567 542 516 555 508 471 522 550 527 
			 North West 1,595 1,548 1,480 1,538 1,455 1,539 1,497 1,418 1,374 1,385 1,394 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 1,204 1,067 1,005 1,052 1,017 1,050 1,043 1,009 1,040 956 1,004 
			 East Midlands 1,006 987 917 900 893 984 908 912 891 929 918 
			 West Midlands 1,322 1,271 1,193 1,213 1,137 1,100 1,187 1,149 1,143 1,090 1,102 
			 East of England 1,225 1,263 1,363 1,192 1,241 1,229 1,278 1,241 1,150 1,224 1,202 
			 London 1,440 1,436 1,336 1,322 1,335 1,332 1,306 1,296 1,235 1,182 1,155 
			 South East Coast 1,014 972 1,017 1,008 983 1,027 1,041 986 983 1,009 1,025 
			 South Central 802 823 912 862 813 817 798 798 788 776 746 
			 South West 1,288 1,281 1,235 1,174 1,241 1,227 1,229 1,221 1,162 1,196 1,170 
			 (1) Breast cancer was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes 174 and 175 for the years 1996 to 2000, and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code C50 for the years 2001 to 2006. The introduction of ICD-10 in 2001 had a significant effect on mortality rates for some diseases, causing a discontinuity in mortality trends for these causes of death. However ONS practice is not to adjust the historical numbers of deaths shown in PQ answers. More information on this issue can be found at www.statistics.gov.uk/icd10mortality. For female breast cancer the introduction of ICD-10 caused an increase of 2.7 per cent. in the number of deaths. An article specifically examining the changes for cancer trends was published in Health Statistics Quarterly 23*. This article also presents comparability ratios (the ratio of the number of deaths coded to a cause in ICD-10 to the number coded to the equivalent cause in ICD-9) for the most common cancer sites. * Brock A, Griffiths C, Rooney C (2004) The effect of the introduction of ICD-10 on cancer mortality trends in England and Wales. Health Statistics Quarterly 23, 7-17 (2) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.

Breast Cancer

David Crausby: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proportion of female deaths were caused by  (a) breast and  (b) cervical cancer in each strategic health authority region in each of the last 11 years.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated June 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what proportion of female deaths were caused by (a) breast and (b) cervical cancer in each strategic health authority region in each of the last 11 years. (212812)
	The table attached provides the percentage of female deaths where breast cancer was the underlying cause of death, by strategic health authority in England, for 1996 to 2006 (the latest year available). The corresponding figures for cervical cancer were less than one per cent of deaths in all cases.
	
		
			  Table 1: Percentage of female deaths where breast cancer was the underlying cause of death, strategic health authorities (SHAs)( 1) ,  1996 to 2006( 2) 
			  SHA  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 North East 4 4 4 4 3 4 3 3 4 4 4 
			 North West 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 4 4 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 
			 East Midlands 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 
			 West Midlands 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 
			 East of England 4 4 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 
			 London 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 
			 South East Coast 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 
			 South Central 4 4 5 5 4 5 4 4 4 4 4 
			 South West 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 
			 England 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 
			 (1) Breast cancer was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) code 174 for the years 1996 to 2000, and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code C50 for the years 2001 to 2006. (2) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.

Construction: Manpower

David Kidney: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people were employed in the construction industry in  (a) 2007 and  (b) 2008.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 25 June 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many people were employed in the construction industry in (a) 2007 and (b) 2008. (213030)
	The definitive source for the number of people employed is normally the Labour Force Survey (LFS). However, because of the interest in the construction sector an estimate has been compiled from the Workforce Jobs Series.
	While estimates of the number of recruitments are not available explicitly, figures from surveys enable comparisons to be made of net changes in jobs from year to year.
	The number of people employed in the construction industry in March 2007 was 2.21 million and the number employed in March 2008, the latest estimate available, was 2.22 million. Workforce Job statistics are published as part of the Labour Market Statistics First Release. The latest estimates can be found in Table 5(2) and can be obtained on the National Statistics website at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/STATBASE/Product.asp?vlnk=1944
	As with any survey, results from the Workforce Jobs Series are subject to a margin of uncertainty.

Death: Leeds

John Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what his latest estimate is of  (a) the overall mortality rate and  (b) the cigarette smoking-related mortality rate in (i) Leeds West constituency and (ii) Leeds Metropolitan District in each of the last five years.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 25 June 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the latest estimate is of (a) the overall mortality rate and (b) cigarette smoking-related mortality rate in (i) Leeds West constituency and (ii) Leeds Metropolitan District in each of the last five years. (213359)
	The table attached provides the age-standardised mortality rates for (i) Leeds West parliamentary constituency, for 2001 to 2005 (the latest year available) and (ii) Leeds metropolitan district, for 2001 to 2006 (the latest year available).
	Deaths related to cigarette smoking cannot be directly estimated, as smoking status is not included on the death certificate. However, research published by the then Health Development Agency in 2004 suggested that, in the period 1998-2002, some 17 per cent. of all deaths in England were attributable to smoking.(1)
	(1) Twigg L, Moon G, Walker S (2004) The smoking epidemic in England. London; Health Development Agency
	
		
			  Table 1: Age-standardised mortality rate per 100,000 population( 1)  all-cause mortality, Leeds West parliamentary constituency (i) and Leeds metropolitan district (ii), 2001-06( 2,3) 
			  Rate per  100,000 
			  Year  (i) Leeds West  (ii) Leeds 
			 2001 728 683 
			 2002 770 681 
			 2003 717 672 
			 2004 707 637 
			 2005 685 626 
			 2006 — 607 
			 (1) Age-standardised mortality rates per 100,000 population, standardised to the European Standard Population. Age-standardised rates are used to allow comparison between populations which may contain different proportions of people of different ages. (2) Based on boundaries as of 2008. (3) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.

Departmental Assets

Michael Weir: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster over what period the Cabinet Office depreciates the asset value of its  (a) vehicles,  (b) computer hardware,  (c) bespoke computer software,  (d) standard computer software,  (e) furniture and  (f) telecommunications equipment.

Phil Hope: The Department's most recent depreciation and amortisation policies in respect of tangible and intangible fixed assets are published in the Cabinet Office annual report and resource accounts 2006-07, available in the House of Commons Library.
	The 2007-08 Cabinet Office annual report and accounts are expected to be published shortly before the summer 2008 recess.

Departmental Public Expenditure

David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much his Department spent on  (a) new furnishings,  (b) art and  (c) new vehicles in each of the last three years.

Tom Watson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) on 23 June 2008,  Official Report, column 124W.
	The Cabinet Office has not incurred any expenditure on art.
	The Cabinet Office spent the following on new vehicles.
	
		
			  Financial year  New vehicles (£) 
			 2004-05 37,050.00 
			 2005-06 0.00 
			 2006-07 0.00

Drownings

Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many persons aged  (a) under 16,  (b) 16 to 18 and  (c) over 18 years drowned in (i) public swimming pools, (ii) private swimming pools, (iii) garden ponds and (iv) public lakes and ponds in each of the last five years.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 25 June 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people died from drowning in (a) public swimming pools, (b) private swimming pools, (c) garden ponds and (d) public lakes and ponds in each of the last five years, broken down by persons aged (i) under 16, (ii) 16 to 18 and (iii) over 18 years. (212219)
	The most recent figures available are for deaths registered in 2006. The table below contains the number of deaths due to drowning, for the age groups requested, from 2002 to 2006 in England and Wales.
	Drowning deaths may be identified by intent, for example, intentional self-harm, assault, undetermined intent, accidental drowning. Of these, only the last category allows deaths to be identified by place of drowning (bath-tub, swimming-pool, natural water). Coroners, however, are not asked to provide specific information on place of drowning, and so the information recorded at the Office for National Statistics will be partial. For this reason, figures for the place of death categories requested cannot be provided.
	
		
			  Number of deaths by drowning,( 1)  England and Wales,( 2)  2002-06( 3) 
			  Age group 
			   All ages  Under 16  16-18  Over 18 
			 2002 500 38 16 446 
			 2003 506 37 14 455 
			 2004 468 26 13 429 
			 2005 487 39 23 425 
			 2006 487 33 15 439 
			 (1) Selected using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, code T75.1 (2) Includes non-residents (3) Deaths registered in each calendar year

Employment: Gwent

Don Touhig: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  how many people in Islwyn constituency were in education, employment or training in  (a) 1997 and  (b) 2007;
	(2)  how many people under the age of 30 years in Islwyn constituency were recorded as being in full-time employment in  (a) 1997 and  (b) 2007.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated June 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions. The first asks how many people under the age of 30 years in Islwyn constituency were recorded as being in full-time employment in (a) 1997 and (b) 2007 (212691). The second asks how many people in Islwyn constituency were in education, employment or training in (a) 1997 and (b) 2007. (212690)
	The Office for National Statistics compiles employment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS) and its predecessor the annual Labour Force Survey (LFS) following International Labour Organisation definitions.
	Table 1, attached, shows the number of people under the age of 30 years, resident in the Islwyn constituency, who were in full-time employment in (a) 1997 and (b) 2007. Table 2, attached, shows the number of people of working age, that is women aged 16 to 59 or men aged 16 to 64, who were in full-time or part-time education, employment or training in (a) 1997 and (b) 2007 resident in the Islwyn constituency. Estimates are obtained from the annual LFS for the 12 months ending in February 1997 and from the APS for the 12 month ending in September 2007, which is the most recent period for which estimates are available.
	As these estimates are for a subset of the population in small geographical areas, they are based on small sample sizes, and are therefore subject to large margins of uncertainty.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of persons in full-time employment under the age of 30 in Islwyn constituency in 1997 and 2007 
			  12 months ending  Number (Thousand) 
			 February 1997 7 
			 September 2007 5 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of persons in education, employment or training in Islwyn constituency in 1997 and 2007 
			  12 months ending  Number (Thousand) 
			 February 1997 31 
			 September 2007 32 
			  Notes: 1. Estimates are subject to sampling variability. 2. Changes in the estimates over time should be treated with particular caution.  Source: Annual Population Survey and Annual Labour Force Survey

Income: Yorkshire and the Humber

John Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the average annual income has been in  (a) Yorkshire and Humberside,  (b) Leeds Metropolitan District and  (c) Leeds West constituency in each year since 2000.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 25 June 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the average annual income has been in,  (a) Yorkshire and Humberside,  (b) Leeds Metropolitan District, and  (c) Leeds West Constituency in each year since 2000. (209745)
	Table 1 shows the average net weekly equivalised household income for Yorkshire and Humberside, both before and after housing costs, at 2004-05 prices, since 2000-01, 2002-03. These figures are based on the Department for Work and Pensions' Households Below Average Income (HBAI) series which is produced using the Family Resources Survey. It is not possible to present results from the HBAI series below the level of Government Office Regions. While HBAI more commonly presents median incomes, mean incomes are also shown here in order to be more comparable with the mean incomes shown for Leeds West Constituency and Leeds Metropolitan District.
	Table 2 shows average net weekly equivalised household incomes for Leeds West and Leeds Metropolitan District, before and after housing costs, for the year 2004-05 (in 200-05 prices). These are based on experimental small area statistics published by the ONS (see background notes). Figures for other years are unavailable.
	Equivalised household incomes are used as a proxy for living standards. Incomes are equivalised to account for household size and composition, and the members of each household are assumed to benefit equally from the household's income. Average household incomes are calculated by assigning the household income to all members of the household, and averaging among individuals.
	It should be borne in mind that the Government Office Region statistics and the small area statistics are based on different methodologies. It is not possible to separate out methodological differences from real differences. Small differences or changes over time should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error.
	
		
			  Table 1: Average net weekly equivalised household income in Yorkshire and Humberside, at 2004-05 prices( 1, 2, 3) 2000-01 to 2006-07( 4) 
			  £ per week 
			   Before housing costs( 5)  After housing costs( 5) 
			   Median income  Mean income  Median income  Mean income 
			 2000-01 to 2002-03 308 374 262 321 
			 2001-02 to 2003-04 317 380 272 328 
			 2002-03 to 2004-05 322 380 279 332 
			 2003-04 to 2005-06 322 377 280 332 
			 2004-05 to 2006-07 328 381 298 332 
			 (1) Incomes are presented net of income tax payments, National Insurance contributions and Council tax. (2) Yorkshire and Humberside as defined by Government office region. (3) All figures have been rounded to the nearest pound. (4) Three-year averages have been presented, as single year estimates would be subject to volatility. (5) Housing costs include rent (gross of housing benefit), water charges, mortgage interest payments, structural insurance, ground rent and service charges.  Source:  Households Below Average Income', Department for Work and Pensions. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Average net weekly equivalised household income for Leeds West constituency and Leeds Metropolitan District 2004-05( 1, 2) 
			  £ per week 
			   Mean income (before housing costs)( 3)  Mean income (after housing costs)( 3) 
			 Leeds West Constituency 340 290 
			 Leeds Metropolitan District 400 350 
			 (1) Incomes are presented net of income tax payments, National Insurance contributions and Council tax. (2) Figures rounded to the nearest £10. (3) Housing costs include rent (gross of housing benefit), water charges, mortgage interest payments, structural insurance, ground rent and service charges. (4) These estimates are based on experimental small area statistics (see background notes).  Source:  Office for National Statistics and Department for Work and Pensions.

Intelligence Services: Vetting

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 10 June 2008, on how many occasions in the last 12 months security sections have been notified that the spouse or partner of an officer in the intelligence and security services has been working in the sex industry; on how many such occasions the notification was made  (a) by the officer concerned and  (b) following a formal review; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Miliband: Information concerning security vetting cases is not held centrally. It has been the policy of successive Governments not to comment on individual cases.

Life Expectancy

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the life expectancy was of  (a) men and  (b) women in (i) Chorley, (ii) Lancashire, (iii) the North West Region and (iv) the UK in each year since 1997.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated June 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the life expectancy was of (a) men and (b) women in (i) Chorley, (ii) Lancashire, (iii) the North West Region and (iv) the UK in each year since 1997. (212617)
	Period life expectancies at birth for (a) males and (b) females for (i) all local authority districts and unitary authorities in England and Wales, (ii) government office regions in England, and (iii) the UK, for rolling three-year periods from 1991-93 to 2004-06, are published on the National Statistics website at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=8841
	Life expectancy figures at county level are not readily available.

Lone Parents: Lincolnshire

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what his latest estimate is of the number of lone parents with children under 16 years old in  (a) Cleethorpes,  (b) Great Grimsby,  (c) north-east Lincolnshire and  (d) north Lincolnshire.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 25 June 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the latest estimate is of the number of lone parents with children under 16 years old in (a) Cleethorpes, (b) Great Grimsby, (c) North East Lincolnshire and (d) North Lincolnshire. (212835)
	The number of lone parent families in the UK with children under 16 can be estimated using the Labour Force Survey (LFS). The table below shows 2007 estimates for the requested geographic areas.
	
		
			   Number of lone parent families with children under 16 ( T housand) 
			 Cleethorpes 2 
			 Great Grimsby 4 
			 North East Lincolnshire 5 
			 North Lincolnshire 6 
			  Note: Cleethorpes and Great Grimsby are parliamentary constituencies North East Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire are unitary authorities  Source: LFS quarterly data, April to June, not seasonally adjusted

Official Secrets Act

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what provisions are in place to deter people who have not signed the Official Secrets Act from reading documents classified only to be read by people who have signed the Act; and what steps may be taken against any such people who do read such documents without authorisation.

Edward Miliband: Government information bearing a classification may only be passed to those individuals who have a need to know and, where necessary, hold the appropriate security clearance.
	While there is no requirement for individuals to sign the Official Secrets Act, the provisions of the Act are drawn to the attention of Crown servants on appointment.
	Under the Act, it is an offence to disclose official information in certain specified categories and, for most of those categories, when the disclosure is damaging. The provisions of the Act apply to Crown servants and Government contractors, and to members of the public who have, or have had, official information in their possession.

Prostate Cancer

David Crausby: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed in each strategic health authority region in each of the last 11 years; and how many deaths from prostate cancer there were in each year.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 25 June 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed, and how many deaths from prostate cancer there were, in each strategic health authority region in each of the last 11 years. (212813)
	The most recent available figures for cancer incidence are for 2005. Figures requested are given in Table 1 below. The most recent available figures for cancer deaths are for 2006. Figures requested are given in Table 2 below.
	
		
			  Table 1: Registrations of newly diagnosed cases of prostate cancer( 1) , males, by Strategic health authority, 1995  to  2005 
			  SHA  1995  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 England 19,473 19,866 19,878 20,375 22,203 24,256 27,380 27,672 27,777 29,406 28,886 
			 
			 North East 771 861 887 1,063 1,229 1,243 1,407 1,389 1,475 1,321 1,403 
			 Northwest 2,733 2,839 2,554 2,626 2,843 3,096 3,651 3,525 3,637 4,468 4,293 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 1,730 1,784 1,857 1,818 1,923 2,372 2,631 2,598 2,639 2,909 2,729 
			 East Midlands 1,495 1,601 1,465 1,531 1,747 1,939 2,115 2,136 2,090 2,415 2,619 
			 West Midlands 2,035 2,144 2,085 2,247 2,411 2,723 3,076 3,235 3,249 3,377 3,350 
			 East of England 2,283 2,396 2,247 2,266 2,609 2,938 3,192 3,270 3,194 3,164 3,453 
			 London 2,449 2,400 2,593 2,661 2,742 2,797 3,074 3,115 3,062 3,012 2,875 
			 South East Coast 2,078 1,889 2,081 1,997 2,225 2,289 2,441 2,302 2,270 2,268 2,317 
			 South Central 1,543 1,549 1,480 1,632 1,808 2,038 2,349 2,361 2,334 2,484 2,169 
			 South West 2,356 2,403 2,629 2,534 2,666 2,821 3,444 3,741 3,827 3,988 3,678 
			 (1) Prostate cancer is coded to C61 in the International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD-10)  Source: Office for National Statistics 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of deaths where prostate cancer was the underlying cause of death, males, by strategic health authority( 1) ,1996 to  2006( 2) 
			  SHA  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 England 8,256 7,982 8,074 8,015 7,761 8,305 8,471 8,570 8,531 8,492 8,506 
			 
			 North East 356 368 386 374 352 383 413 401 457 392 466 
			 North West 1,045 1,031 1,047 1,041 1,064 1,127 1,077 1,053 1,062 1,109 1,016 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 801 810 755 789 770 756 784 890 856 795 858 
			 East Midlands 702 701 694 678 685 687 732 781 762 755 757 
			 West Midlands 865 851 884 865 835 955 910 948 930 889 960 
			 East of England 948 870 894 905 905 997 1,074 1,000 1,017 1,015 1,040 
			 London 970 878 891 910 798 930 929 890 939 953 850 
			 South East Coast 882 832 851 831 779 830 883 896 766 804 811 
			 South Central 633 602 625 632 567 620 643 638 665 652 681 
			 South West 1,054 1,039 1,047 990 1,006 1,020 1,026 1,073 1,077 1,128 1,067 
			 (1 )Prostate cancer was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) code 185 for the years 1996 to 2000, and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code C61 for the years 2001 to 2006. The introduction of ICD-10 in 2001 had a significant effect on mortality rates for some diseases, causing a discontinuity in mortality trends for these causes of death. However ONS practice is not to adjust the historical numbers of deaths shown in PQ answers. More information on this issue can be found at www.statistics.gov.uk/icd10mortality. For prostate cancer, the introduction of ICD-10 caused an increase of 3.8 per cent. in the number of deaths. An article specifically examining the changes for cancer trends was published in Health Statistics Quarterly 23*. This article also presents comparability ratios (the ratio of the number of deaths coded to a cause in ICD-10 to the number coded to the equivalent cause in ICD-9) for the most common cancer sites. * Brock A, Griffiths C, Rooney C (2004) The effect of the introduction of ICD-10 on cancer mortality trends in England and Wales. Health Statistics Quarterly 23, 7-17. (2) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.

Television

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much the Cabinet Office  (a) spent in each of the last three years and  (b) spent in 2008-09 to date on (i) commissioning and (ii) funding the production of television programmes; what programmes these were; and which companies made them.

Tom Watson: The Cabinet Office's central communications unit has neither commissioned nor sponsored any television programmes over this period.

Unemployment: Cleethorpes

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many and what proportion of households in Cleethorpes constituency had no one in full-time work in each of the last five years.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 25 June 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question on how many and what proportion of households in Cleethorpes constituency had no one in full-time work in each of the last five years. (212841)
	Estimates in the attached table are provided from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). There is currently no annual household dataset, so the figures are given for the April-June quarter to be consistent with those published in the 'Work and worklessness among households' First Release (see web link):
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/work0807.pdf
	The household datasets (like the main quarterly LFS microdatasets) are weighted to the population estimates published by the Office for National Statistics in February and March 2003. They do not incorporate the more recent population estimates used in the headline LFS series.
	Figures for households are based on working age households. A working-age household is a household that includes at least one person of working-age, that is a woman aged 16 to 59 or a man aged 16 to 64.
	The LFS is a sample survey covering over 52,000 households in the United Kingdom in each three month period. As with any sample survey, estimates from the Labour Force Survey are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	
		
			  Number and proportion of working-age( 1)  households in Cleethorpes constituency where no-one is in full-time employment 2003-07, April to June of each year 
			   Levels ( Thousand )  Percentage( 2) 
			 2003 4 22 
			 2004 6 23 
			 2005 9 30 
			 2006 6 21 
			 2007 4 15 
			 (1) A working-age household is a household that includes at least one person of working-age, that is a woman aged 16 to 59 or a man aged 16 to 64. (2) In calculating percentages, households with unknown economic status have been excluded.  Notes: 1. Estimates are weighted to the 2003 population estimates. 2. As with any sample survey, estimates from the Labour Force Survey are subject to a margin of uncertainty.  Source: LFS household datasets

Wood

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  how much timber and timber products were procured by his Department in each of the last five years; and at what cost;
	(2)  how much timber and timber products were procured by his Department originating from independently verified legal and sustainable sources or from a licensed FLEGT partner in each of the last five years; and at what cost.

Phil Hope: The information can be obtained only at disproportionate costs. The Cabinet Office procures timber and timber products in line with UK Government timber procurement policy which requires central Government to actively seek to buy timber and timber products from legal and sustainable sources.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Academies: Lancashire

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what plans he has to establish  (a) academies and  (b) trust schools in (i) Chorley and (ii) Lancashire.

Jim Knight: Currently there are no proposals to establish an academy in Chorley. We have agreed with the Lancashire local authority two academy projects in Accrington and Preston, in order to drive up standards in those areas. The establishment of a trust school is a matter for local decision. Three schools in Lancashire have informed the Department of their interest in acquiring trust status and are currently on our Supported Schools Programme to help them to do so. None of these schools is in the Chorley area.

Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what grants were made by his Department to the London Borough of Bexley in each of the last three years; for how much in each case; what grants will be made in 2008-09; and for how much in each case.

Jim Knight: Revenue funding in 2005-06 for Bexley local authority was made up of the Education Formula Share (EFS), Standards Fund, Budget Support Grant, Transitional Support Grant, School Standards Grant and funding from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC); figures for these are provided in the following table. Total and per-pupil revenue funding figures are also provided. Figures are in cash terms.
	
		
			  Bexley local authority 
			 2005-06 EFS (£ million) 142 
			 2005-06 Other grants (£ million) 32 
			 2005-06 Total (£ million) 174 
			 2005-06 Total per — pupil (£) 4,280 
			  Notes: 1. Price base: Cash. 2. Figures reflect relevant sub-blocks of education formula spending (EFS) settlements and include the pensions transfer to EFS and the Learning and Skills Council. 3. The 'Other Grants' figure includes all revenue grants in DfES departmental expenditure limits relevant to pupils aged three-19. These exclude education maintenance allowances (EMAs) and grants not allocated at LEA level. 4. The pupil numbers used to convert £ million figures to £ per pupil are those underlying the EFS settlement calculations. Rounding: The EFS, other grants and total figures are rounded to the nearest £ million and the total per - pupil figures to the nearest £10. 
		
	
	The figures shown in the following table are taken from the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) which was introduced in April 2006. They are not comparable with 2005-06 figures quoted above because the introduction of the DSG in 2006-07 fundamentally changed how local authorities are funded. This change does not affect the comparability of the other non-DSG grants identified above, although there are some year-on-year changes in terms of what grants were provided.
	The 2005-06 figures quoted above are based on Education Formula Spending (EFS) which formed the education part of the local government finance settlement, plus various grants. The DSG is based on planned spend. In addition, the DSG has a different coverage from EFS, which comprises a schools block and an LEA block (to cover LEA central functions) whereas DSG only covers the school block. LEA block items are still funded through DCLG's local government finance settlement but education items cannot be separately identified. Consequently, there is a break in the Department's time series as the two sets of data are not comparable.
	To provide a comparison for 2006-07 DSG, the Department have isolated the schools block equivalent funding in 2005-06—the basis for the 2005-06 baseline figure quoted in the following table; as described above this does not represent the totality of 'education' funding in that year. The grants associated with the 2005-06 DSG baseline are the same as those given with the EFS figure above: Standards Fund, Budget Support Grant, Transitional Support Grant, School Standards Grant and LSC funding.
	Revenue funding from the DSG, Standards Fund, School Standards Grant, Schools Standards Grant (Personalisation) and the Learning and Skills Council for years 2006-07 to 2007-08 for Bexley local authority are provided in the following table along with the comparable figures based on the 2005-06 DSG baseline. The figures are for all funded pupils aged three-19 and are in cash terms.
	
		
			  Bexley local authority 
			   £ million 
			 2005-06 DSG Baseline (£ million) 129 
			 2005-06 Other grants (£ million) 32 
			 2005-06 Total (£ million) 160 
			 2005-06 Total per- pupil (£) 4,060 
			   
			 2006-07 DSG (£ million) 137 
			 2006-07 Other grants (£ million) 33 
			 2006-07 Total (£ million) 170 
			 2006-07 Total per- pupil (£) 4,280 
			   
			 2007-08 DSG (£ million) 145 
			 2007-08 Other grants (£ million) 35 
			 2007-08 Total (£ million) 179 
			 2007-08 Total per- pupil (£) 4,550 
			  Notes: 1. This covers funding through the Dedicated Schools Grant, School Standards Grant, School Standards Grant (Personalisation) and Standards Fund as well as funding from the Learning and Skills Council; it excludes giants which are not allocated at LA level. 2. Price Base: Cash. 3. These figures are for all funded pupils aged three-19 4. DSG, Other Grants and Total figures have been rounded to the nearest £ million. The total per pupil figures have been rounded to the nearest £10. 5. Some of the grant allocations have not been finalised. If these do change, the effect on the funding figures is expected to be minimal. 
		
	
	The DSG indicative allocations (these are based on projected pupil numbers whereas the final allocations will be based on actual pupil numbers) and guaranteed per pupil unit of funding (GUF) for 2008-09 for Bexley local authority are shown in the following table.
	These figures cover funding through the DSG only; there is funding from the other grants identified above that support the schools budget whose allocations have not yet been finalised for 2008-09. This covers all funded pupils aged three-15 and is in cash terms (rounded to the nearest £10).
	
		
			  Bexley local authority 
			 2008-09 DSG Indicative allocations (£ million) 151 
			   
			 2008-09 GUF per- pupil (£) 4150 
			  Notes: 1. The revenue funding figures only run to 2005-06 because we cannot provide a consistent time series beyond that year as the introduction of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) in 2006-07 fundamentally changed how local authorities are funded. The 2005-06 figures are based on Education Formula Spending (EFS) which formed the education part of the local government finance settlement, plus various grants. This was an assessment of what local authorities needed to fund education rather than what they spent. In 2006-07 funding for schools changed with the introduction of the DSG which is based largely on an authority's planned spend. 2. In addition, DSG has a different coverage to EFS: EFS comprised a schools block and an LEA block (to cover LEA central functions) whereas DSG only covers the school block. LEA block items are still funded through DCLG's local government finance settlement but education items cannot be separately identified. This means we have a break in our time series as the two sets of data are not comparable. 3. Some of the grant allocations have not been finalised. If these do change, the effect on the funding figures is expected to be minimal. 4. The 2008-09 figures cover funding through the Dedicated Schools Grants (DSG). This figure does not represent the totality of 'education' funding allocated in that year. There are other grants that support the schools budget whose allocations have not yet been finalised- these are not included in the provided DSG figure.

Children's Centres: Chorley

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children's centres are operational in Chorley; how many are due to be opened; and how much will be spent on such centres in the next 12 months.

Beverley Hughes: There are currently five designated Sure Start children's centres in Chorley. By 2010 all communities will have access to a children's centre. Lancashire county council is currently considering how many additional children centres they will need and where these should be located in order to meet this commitment.
	The Department has allocated £324,637 in capital and £6,412,037 in revenue funding to Lancashire county council 2008-09. It is for local authorities to decide how to allocate funding to individual centres and information on how much has been allocated to the centres in Chorley is not collected centrally.

Class Sizes

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the pupil:teacher ratio was in each local education authority at  (a) primary and  (b) secondary level in each year since 1997-98.

Jim Knight: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Departmental Assets

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families over what period his Department depreciates the asset value of its  (a) vehicles,  (b) computer hardware,  (c) bespoke computer software,  (d) standard computer software,  (e) furniture and  (f) telecommunications equipment.

Kevin Brennan: Details of the period over which the Department depreciates the above assets categories are:
	
		
			   Years 
			  (a) Vehicles 5 to 8 
			  (b) Computer hardware 3 to 7 
			  (c) Bespoke computer software 3 to 7 
			  (d) Standard computer software 3 to 7 
			  (e) Furniture 7 
			  (f) Telecommunications equipment 3 to 7 
		
	
	This information has been taken from the statement of accounting policies which forms part of the Department's annually published Resource Accounts.

Departmental Aviation

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many individual domestic air flights were undertaken within mainland Britain by representatives of  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies in the most recent year for which figures are available; and at what cost.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested is as follows:
	( a) The number of domestic flights (one way trips) undertaken by representatives of the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills in the financial year April 2007 to March 2008 was 1,128. The cost of the flights was £126,460. It is not possible without incurring disproportionate cost to separate the number of flights made by representatives of these two Departments that originally formed the Department for Education and Skills.
	 (b) The Department has no agencies.
	Travel by Ministers and civil servants is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Management Code respectively.

Departmental Furniture

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) chairs,  (b) desks and  (c) other office furnishings have been purchased by his Department and its agencies in each of the last five years; and at what cost in each case.

Kevin Brennan: The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) does not hold information on the detail of spend incurred by its agencies and can only provide aggregate spends for the purchase of office furniture, inclusive of chairs desks and other office furnishings for the Department for each of the last four years.
	The breakdown of aggregate spends for each of the last four years is:
	
		
			   Total cost (£) 
			 2004/05 £524,490 
			 2005/06 £315,124 
			 2006/07 £123,703 
			 2007/08 £1,269,169

Departmental Homeworking

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many staff in his Department are authorised to work from home.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	I can however confirm that home working is available to all staff in the Department for Children, Schools and Families and currently 50 per cent. of staff can access the Department's IT infrastructure from home.

Departmental Manpower

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many permanent staff within  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies are classed as (i) staff without posts and (ii) part of a people action team.

Kevin Brennan: There are currently 21 staff in my Department and its agencies that are classed as without permanent posts. These staff are all actively engaged in delivering a range of departmental projects and duties, while seeking a new permanent post through our Brokerage Service. These staff are known as priority movers and they are given individual tailored support to engage with the internal labour market and find suitable permanent posts.
	There are no members of staff in people action teams.

Departmental Postal Services

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department spent on sending mail overseas in each year since 2001, broken down by delivery company.

Kevin Brennan: The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) spent £3,300 in total on mail overseas across each of our four current HQ buildings for the period 2007-08 using Royal Mail, the only delivery company used. This amounted to 1.1 per cent. of the postal budget for this period. Each HQ building holds autonomous and non-compatible recording systems, some going back further than others so the collation of records dating from 2001 would incur disproportionate costs even if the base information was extant.

Departmental Security

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many departmental identity cards or departmental passes have been reported lost or stolen in the last 24 months in  (a) his Department and its predecessor and  (b) each of its executive agencies.

Kevin Brennan: The number of building passes reported lost or stolen, for the Department for Children, Schools and Families formerly Department for Skills and Education in the last 24 months amounts to 313. The Department has no Executive agencies.

Departmental Sick Pay

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much sick pay to staff in his Department and its predecessor cost in the last five years for which figures are available.

Kevin Brennan: Due to the wide range of posts and salary points in my Department, the actual cost of sick pay to staff in my Department could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. My Department's general policy for full-time staff is to pay sickness absence on full pay for up to 182 days, followed by sickness absence on half pay for up to 183 days. Sickness absence is unpaid once entitlement to full and/or half pay has been exhausted, unless HR approves payment of sick pay at pension rate.

General Certificate of Secondary Education

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what percentage of pupils taking GCSEs obtained three A*-C passes in separate science subjects in  (a) the state sector and  (b) the independent sector in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: The information required is in the following table.
	
		
			   Maintained Schools  Independent Schools 
			   Number of pupils achieving A*-C grades in Biology, Chemistry and Physics  Percentage of pupils achieving A*-C grades in Biology, Chemistry and Physics  Number of 15-year-olds  Number of pupils achieving A*-C grades in Biology, Chemistry and Physics  Percentage of pupils achieving A*-C grades in Biology, Chemistry and Physics  Number of 15-year-olds 
			 2006-07 30,542 5.0 608,125 11,629 24.0 48,537 
			 2005-06 28,283 4.7 600,650 11,558 23.9 48,292 
			 2004-05 25,502 4.3 589,881 11,500 24.5 46,890 
			 2003-04 23,161 3.9 596,602 11,635 24.8 46,958 
			 2002-03 21,046 3.6 577,791 11,434 25.8 44,331 
			  Notes: 1. These figures relate to 15-year-olds (age at start of academic year, i.e. 31 August) in all maintained and independent schools. 2. Maintained schools include academies and CTCs.

General Certificate of Secondary Education

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what percentage of pupils in each secondary modern or equivalent school in England gained five grade A*-C GCSEs in each year since 2003.

Jim Knight: The information has been placed in the Library.

Grammar Schools: Disadvantaged

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children at English grammar schools were entitled to free school meals in each year since 1996-97; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The readily available information is given in the table below. Information for each year since 1996-97 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  State funded secondary schools: School meals arrangements: Position in January each year: 1997, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2007 and 2008 (provisional) England 
			   Grammar schools  State funded secondary-schools( 1) 
			   Number of pupils  Number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals  Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free schools meals  Number of pupils  Number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals  Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free schools meals 
			 1997(2) 127,780 4,730 3.7 3,052,280 556,250 18.2 
			 1999(2) 140,010 4,320 3.1 3,134,470 527,340 16.8 
			 2002(2) 145,430 3,240 2.2 3,277,100 488,490 14.9 
			 2005(3) 153,270 3,300 2.1 3,349,220 473,470 14.1 
			 2007(3) 156,870 3,140 2.0 3,325,620 445,070 13.4 
			 2008 Provisional(3) 154,420 3,030 2.0 3,293,650 433,010 13.1 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. Also CTCs and academies. (2) number of pupils include those with sole and dual registration. Excludes boarders. (3) Includes pupils with sole and dual main registration. Includes boarders.  Note: Pupil numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. There may be discrepancies between the sum of constituent items and totals as shown.  Source: School Census

Health Education: Sex

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  when the group reviewing the delivery of sex and relationship education is expected to report its recommendations;
	(2)  what consultation will be undertaken on the recommendations of the group reviewing the delivery of sex and relationship education.

Jim Knight: The external steering group which has overseen the review of sex and relationships education (SRE) in schools is due to present its report and recommendations to DCSF Ministers at the end of July 2008. Ministers will consider the recommendations and respond later in the year.
	We do not intend to carry out a public consultation on the group's recommendations. However it may be appropriate to consult more widely on particular action that the Government propose to take as a result of the group's report.

Politics: Curriculum

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what provision there is in the National Curriculum for teaching on politics and political institutions; and what research he has evaluated on the effects of such teaching in other countries on young people's participation in democratic processes.

Jim Knight: Citizenship education, which has been compulsory in secondary schools since 2002, makes an important contribution to developing young people's political literacy. It enables them to improve their understanding and develop skills of democratic participation while helping them to appreciate that they have a stake in society. Through Citizenship Education, young people are taught about democratic institutions, processes and the importance of voting. We are keen to encourage active learning so that young people start early to experience democracy in action. We continue to monitor young people's attitudes to participation in the democratic process through UK-based research such as the National Foundation for Education Research (NFER)'s longitudinal study reports and international research such as the International Review of Curriculum and Assessment Frameworks Archive (INCA) report which looks at how citizenship education affects participation in 14 different countries.

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the level of guaranteed funding per pupil was in each local education authority in each year since 1997-98.

Jim Knight: The dedicated schools grant (DSG) was introduced in 2006-07 and the guaranteed units of funding per pupil (GUF) from 2006-07 to 2010-11 are provided in the following table. Prior to 2006-07, funding was not allocated through a guaranteed amount per pupil and so figures are not available for 1997-98 to 2005-06. This funding covers all funded pupils aged three to 15. Figures are in cash terms.
	
		
			  Dedicated schools grant 
			  GUF (£) 
			   2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10  2010-11 
			 Barking and Dagenham 4,097 4,379 4,563 4,725 4,917 
			 Barnet 4,081 4,344 4,559 4,723 4,917 
			 Barnsley 3,452 3,688 3,848 3,987 4,154 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 3,492 3,715 3,891 4,033 4,204 
			 Bedfordshire 3,407 3,633 3,817 3,961 4,134 
			 Bexley 3,719 3,970 4,151 4,301 4,482 
			 Birmingham 4,000 4,270 4,448 4,605 4,790 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 3,828 4,083 4,254 4,405 4,583 
			 Blackpool 3,573 3,818 3,982 4,125 4,296 
			 Bolton 3,567 3,810 3,978 4,125 4,301 
			 Bournemouth 3,435 3,665 3,825 3,964 4,130 
			 Bracknell Forest 3,590 3,835 4,017 4,177 4,367 
			 Bradford 3,642 3,919 4,107 4,275 4,470 
			 Brent 4,316 4,663 4,894 5,102 5,342 
			 Brighton and Hove 3,692 3,936 4,103 4,249 4,424 
			 Bristol, City of 3,929 4,190 4,366 4,520 4,702 
			 Bromley 3,525 3,775 3,966 4,123 4,311 
			 Buckinghamshire 3,507 3,728 3,899 4,042 4,216 
			 Bury 3,537 3,763 3,926 4,068 4,238 
			 Calderdale 3,520 3,750 3,912 4,053 4,222 
			 Cambridgeshire 3,407 3,623 3,787 3,926 4,093 
			 Camden 5,551 5,923 6,161 6,373 6,618 
			 Cheshire 3,471 3,692 3,880 4,021 4,190 
			 Cornwall 3,362 3,585 3,742 3,879 4,043 
			 Coventry 3,696 3,942 4,110 4,258 4,433 
			 Croydon 3,806 4,080 4,267 4,432 4,627 
			 Cumbria 3,447 3,671 3,831 3,970 4,137 
			 Darlington 3,547 3,782 3,944 4,086 4,255 
			 Derby 3,574 3,814 3,978 4,120 4,291 
			 Derbyshire 3,429 3,649 3,825 3,964 4,130 
			 Devon 3,335 3,551 3,707 3,843 4,005 
			 Doncaster 3,541 3,778 3,941 4,083 4,252 
			 Dorset 3,418 3,635 3,799 3,938 4,104 
			 Dudley 3,549 3,786 3,949 4,092 4,263 
			 Durham 3,581 3,818 3,982 4,125 4,296 
			 Ealing 4,339 4,634 4,832 5,007 5,213 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 3,322 3,535 3,715 3,851 4,015 
			 East Sussex 3,598 3,831 3,997 4,141 4,313 
			 Enfield 3,984 4,257 4,437 4,596 4,785 
			 Essex 3,524 3,752 3,924 4,067 4,238 
			 Gateshead 3,585 3,822 3,986 4,129 4,300 
			 Gloucestershire 3,358 3,574 3,744 3,881 4,046 
			 Greenwich 4,745 5,120 5,361 5,576 5,827 
			 Hackney 5,491 5,906 6,170 6,409 6,682 
			 Halton 3,797 4,054 4,226 4,376 4,555 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 5,070 5,413 5,635 5,831 6,059 
			 Hampshire 3,441 3,659 3,824 3,964 4,132 
			 Haringey 4,482 4,791 4,987 5,161 5,364 
			 Harrow 4,051 4,311 4,507 4,669 4,862 
			 Hartlepool 3,620 3,864 4,029 4,173 4,345 
			 Havering 3,719 3,962 4,137 4,287 4,468 
			 Herefordshire 3,297 3,523 3,687 3,830 4,002 
			 Hertfordshire 3,507 3,730 3,896 4,039 4,212 
			 Hillingdon 3,919 4,179 4,361 4,519 4,709 
			 Hounslow 4,167 4,457 4,651 4,822 5,024 
			 Isle of Wight 3,640 3,883 4,051 4,198 4,373 
			 Islington 5,146 5,555 5,812 6,043 6,310 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 5,211 5,533 5,757 5,956 6,186 
			 Kent 3,523 3,756 3,938 4,081 4,251 
			 Kingston upon Hull, City of 3,738 3,999 4,168 4,317 4,493 
			 Kingston upon Thames 3,826 4,069 4,256 4,410 4,596 
			 Kirklees 3,543 3,781 3,947 4,093 4,266 
			 Knowsley 3,737 4,038 4,236 4,414 4,621 
			 Lambeth 5,208 5,596 5,848 6,075 6,337 
			 Lancashire 3,536 3,765 3,927 4,069 4,238 
			 Leeds 3,532 3,764 3,926 4,068 4,237 
			 Leicester 3,700 3,972 4,151 4,310 4,497 
			 Leicestershire 3,224 3,429 3,596 3,728 3,888 
			 Lewisham 4,997 5,335 5,556 5,751 5,981 
			 Lincolnshire 3,414 3,636 3,795 3,933 4,099 
			 Liverpool 3,851 4,136 4,320 4,484 4,675 
			 Luton 3,821 4,078 4,251 4,402 4,583 
			 Manchester 4,104 4,390 4,571 4,731 4,919 
			 Medway 3,626 3,868 4,034 4,179 4,351 
			 Merton 4,004 4,270 4,452 4,612 4,801 
			 Middlesbrough 3,759 4,013 4,182 4,330 4,506 
			 Milton Keynes 3,620 3,865 4,080 4,231 4,413 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 3,643 3,916 4,096 4,256 4,443 
			 Newham 4,526 4,860 5,071 5,259 5,478 
			 Norfolk 3,423 3,648 3,807 3,945 4,111 
			 North East Lincolnshire 3,719 3,966 4,134 4,281 4,455 
			 North Lincolnshire 3,435 3,663 3,822 3,961 4,127 
			 North Somerset 3,358 3,574 3,757 3,895 4,061 
			 North Tyneside 3,451 3,676 3,836 3,974 4,140 
			 North Yorkshire 3,458 3,676 3,854 3,993 4,160 
			 Northamptonshire 3,384 3,602 3,785 3,923 4,088 
			 Northumberland 3,330 3,552 3,711 3,850 4,016 
			 Nottingham 4,041 4,321 4,500 4,658 4,843 
			 Nottinghamshire 3,457 3,682 3,842 3,981 4,148 
			 Oldham 3,687 3,944 4,118 4,271 4,453 
			 Oxfordshire 3,480 3,704 3,870 4,011 4,182 
			 Peterborough 3,681 3,929 4,098 4,246 4,422 
			 Plymouth 3,493 3,728 3,889 4,030 4,198 
			 Poole 3,349 3,568 3,724 3,860 4,024 
			 Portsmouth 3,650 3,893 4,061 4,207 4,381 
			 Reading 3,797 4,069 4,260 4,428 4,627 
			 Redbridge 3,757 4,027 4,214 4,380 4,575 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 3,583 3,825 3,990 4,133 4,305 
			 Richmond upon Thames 3,880 4,119 4,311 4,467 4,654 
			 Rochdale 3,744 4,000 4,171 4,321 4,500 
			 Rotherham 3,633 3,879 4,045 4,190 4,363 
			 Rutland 3,520 3,735 3,898 4,039 4,208 
			 Salford 3,877 4,135 4,309 4,462 4,642 
			 Sandwell 3,762 4,035 4,214 4,372 4,557 
			 Sefton 3,523 3,755 3,917 4,058 4,227 
			 Sheffield 3,529 3,778 3,947 4,096 4,272 
			 Shropshire 3,339 3,551 3,715 3,850 4,013 
			 Slough 3,911 4,203 4,404 4,582 4,792 
			 Solihull 3,342 3,556 3,750 3,887 4,052 
			 Somerset 3,365 3,582 3,752 3,889 4,052 
			 South Gloucestershire 3,281 3,489 3,647 3,781 3,944 
			 South Tyneside 3,670 3,923 4,092 4,241 4,417 
			 Southampton 3,697 3,948 4,117 4,265 4,441 
			 Southend-on-Sea 3,620 3,860 4,026 4,171 4,344 
			 Southwark 5,162 5,525 5,756 5,961 6,200 
			 St. Helens 3,577 3,813 3,977 4,120 4,290 
			 Staffordshire 3,381 3,598 3,776 3,913 4,078 
			 Stockport 3,484 3,706 3,902 4,043 4,211 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 3,562 3,797 3,960 4,102 4,272 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 3,651 3,904 4,070 4,215 4,388 
			 Suffolk 3,372 3,591 3,763 3,900 4,065 
			 Sunderland 3,576 3,823 3,990 4,137 4,311 
			 Surrey 3,569 3,801 3,976 4,129 4,313 
			 Sutton 3,810 4,066 4,253 4,409 4,596 
			 Swindon 3,378 3,597 3,775 3,913 4,079 
			 Tameside 3,578 3,818 3,983 4,126 4,298 
			 Telford and Wrekin 3,515 3,750 3,911 4,052 4,219 
			 Thurrock 3,708 3,958 4,141 4,291 4,470 
			 Torbay 3,525 3,760 3,922 4,064 4,233 
			 Tower Hamlets 5,610 6,028 6,289 6,523 6,792 
			 Trafford 3,432 3,653 3,852 3,992 4,160 
			 Wakefield 3,488 3,720 3,881 4,022 4,190 
			 Walsall 3,577 3,843 4,023 4,183 4,371 
			 Waltham Forest 4,115 4,399 4,584 4,747 4,940 
			 Wandsworth 4,513 4,892 5,146 5,376 5,639 
			 Warrington 3,414 3,631 3,819 3,958 4,125 
			 Warwickshire 3,404 3,621 3,789 3,927 4,093 
			 West Berkshire 3,569 3,809 3,984 4,137 4,321 
			 West Sussex 3,488 3,711 3,877 4,018 4,186 
			 Westminster 4,853 5,203 5,439 5,650 5,893 
			 Wigan 3,552 3,784 3,948 4,091 4,262 
			 Wiltshire 3,337 3,554 3,713 3,849 4,013 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 3,627 3,863 4,040 4,193 4,378 
			 Wirral 3,514 3,765 3,937 4,089 4,269 
			 Wokingham 3,422 3,660 3,844 4,005 4,198 
			 Wolverhampton 3,684 3,961 4,145 4,309 4,502 
			 Worcestershire 3,337 3,553 3,729 3,865 4,028 
			 York 3,397 3,614 3,801 3,939 4,103 
			   
			 England Average 3,643 3,888 4,066 4,218 4,398 
			  Notes: 1. This covers funding through the dedicated schools grant (DSG) which covers all funded pupils aged three to 15. 2. This figure does not represent the totality of 'education' funding allocated in each year. There are other grants that support the schools budget; these are not included in the provided DSG figure.

Religion: Education

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what procedures are in place to ensure that private schools offer religious education teaching.

Jim Knight: Independent schools are required to meet standards set out in regulations which cover the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils. The relevant parts of this standard require schools to:
	Enable pupils to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence;
	Enable pupils to distinguish right from wrong and respect the law;
	Encourage pupils to accept responsibility for their behaviour, show initiative and understand how they can contribute to community life;
	Assist pupils to acquire an appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures in a way that promotes tolerance and harmony between different cultural traditions.

Schools: Standards

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many schools received a classification of outstanding in Ofsted reports in  (a) Cornwall,  (b) each constituency in Cornwall,  (c) the South West and  (d) England in 2006-07.

Jim Knight: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply has been placed in the Library.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 17 June 2008:
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for a response.
	Between 01 September 2006 and 31 August 2007, three schools in Cornwall, 92 schools in the South West and 1,148 schools in England were judged to have outstanding overall effectiveness. These figures are shown in Table 1, where to put them in context, I also provide the numbers of maintained schools inspected by Ofsted over the same period. The schools in Cornwall judged outstanding during 2006/07 are listed in Table 2, with their parliamentary constituencies.
	
		
			  Table 1: Maintained schools (including city technology colleges and academies) inspected by Ofsted between 01 September 2006 and 31 August 2007 
			  Area  Number of schools judged outstanding for overall effectiveness  Number of schools inspected 
			 Cornwall 3 116 
			 South West 92 839 
			 England 1,148 8,322 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Maintained schools in Cornwall inspected in 2006/07 and judged outstanding for overall effectiveness 
			  School name  Phase  School address  Parliamentary constituency 
			 Mount Hawke Community Primary School Primary Rodda's Road, Mount Hawke, Truro TR4 8BA Truro and St. Austell 
			 St. Mary's Catholic School Primary Peverell Road, Penzance TR18 2AT St. Ives 
			 Penair School—A Science College Secondary St. Clement, Truro TR1 1TN Truro and St. Austell 
		
	
	A copy of this reply has been sent to Jim Knight, Minister for Schools and Learners, and will be placed in the library of both Houses.

Secondary and Primary Education

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many secondary schools ( a) opened,  (b) closed and  (c) were amalgamated in each local education authority in each year since 1997-98;
	(2)  how many primary schools  (a) opened,  (b) closed and  (c) were amalgamated in each local education authority in each year since 1997-98.

Jim Knight: Two tables showing the numbers of primary, secondary (and middle deemed primary and middle deemed secondary) schools opened and closed in each year since 1997, broken down by local authority, have been placed in the Library. The tables separate the phases of education.
	A further table showing school amalgamations has also been placed in the Library. It is not possible to accurately state the number of amalgamations by year since 1997 as records did not always record the reason for opening/closure. Even the records from 1999 to 2002 can be inaccurate, as some of these were proposed prior to 1999, but implemented post 1999.
	There are significantly more closures than new schools, because an amalgamation can be either where:
	(a) two or more schools close and are replaced by a new school (sometimes on the site of a closing school(s)), or
	(b) one or more schools close and a continuing school is altered, to accommodate the displaced pupils.

Secondary Education: Lancashire

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the average  (a) pupil to teacher and  (b) pupil to adult ratio at key stage 3 was in secondary schools in (i) Chorley constituency and (ii) Lancashire local education authority area in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not collected centrally.
	School pupil:teacher ratios in local authority maintained secondary schools are readily available. Figures for Chorley constituency, Lancashire local authority and England for January 2007 are provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Pupil:teacher ratios( 1)  in local authority maintained secondary( 2)  schools 2007: 
			   Chorley constituency  Lancashire local authority  England 
			  Secondary
			 2007 16.5 16.0 16.5 
			 (1) The within-school PTR is calculated by dividing the total FTE number of pupils on roll in schools by the total FTE number of qualified teachers regularly employed in schools. (2) Excludes academies.

Secondary Education: Standards

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many secondary schools were in special measures in  (a) Chorley,  (b) Lancashire and  (c) England in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The following table shows the number of secondary schools that were in special measures at the end of each academic year since 1997/98 in  (a) Chorley,  (b) Lancashire and  (c) England.
	
		
			  Number of secondary schools in special measures 
			  End of academic year  Chorley  Lancashire  England 
			 1997/98 0 1 95 
			 1998/99 0 1 81 
			 1999/2000 0 0 83 
			 2000/01 0 0 64 
			 2001/02 0 0 52 
			 2002/03 0 0 58 
			 2003/04 0 1 94 
			 2004/05 0 1 90 
			 2005/06 0 1 54 
			 2006/07 0 2 47 
			 2007/08 (up to end of spring term) 0 3 51

Secondary Education: Standards

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of 11 year olds achieved the target level 4 in both English and mathematics at the end of Key Stage 2 in  (a) Chorley and  (b) Lancashire in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The information requested can only be provided at disproportionate cost.
	Figures for 11 year olds achieving level 4 and above in both English and mathematics at the end of Key Stage 2 are only readily available at national level from 2003; these figures together with local authority level tables showing the percentages achieving the expected level in each of these subjects separately can be found in the Statistical First Release "National Curriculum Assessments at Key Stage 2 in England, 2007 (Revised)", which is accessible via the following link:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000764/index.shtml
	Local authority level information showing the percentage achieving the expected level in both English and mathematics will be published in the summer. These statistics will cover years 2005, 2006 and 2007 and will be placed on the Research and Statistics Gateway accessible via the link:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/whatsnew.shtml.

Secondary Education: Standards

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many secondary schools in Chorley constituency  (a) were placed in special measures,  (b) were issued notices to improve and  (c) had at least 30 per cent. of students achieving five GCSEs, graded A* to C, including English, science and mathematics in 2007.

Jim Knight: No secondary schools in Chorley were placed in special measures or issued with notices to improve during 2007.
	The information requested for  (c) is not published by the Department and can be provided only at disproportionate cost. All six secondary schools in Chorley had more than 30 per cent. of pupils achieving 5 A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent, including GCSE English and mathematics in 2007. Further information on the performance of Chorley's secondary schools can be found in the secondary school (GCSE and equivalent) achievement and attainment tables at:
	www.dcsf.gov.uk/performancetables/

Teachers

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) newly qualified teachers (NQTs),  (b) mathematics NQTs and  (c) science NQTs were teaching in secondary schools as a proportion of all teachers in each category in each of the last 10 years.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not available in the format requested.

Truancy

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many truancy sweeps were conducted by each local authority in England in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effects of truancy on standards attained in education; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what guidance his Department has issued to  (a) local education authorities and  (b) the police on the detention of children truanting from school; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: Under Section 16 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (as amended), police officers may, if authorised to do so by a chief police officer, take excluded pupils who are in a public place during normal school hours and children who they believe are out of school without lawful authority to a designated place established by the local authority or to the school. This power is often used during a "school attendance and exclusions sweep".
	This Department and the Home Department have issued joint guidance to local authorities and police services on the use of the power to remove pupils from public places and the organisation of exercises using it called "School Attendance and Exclusions Sweeps: Effective Practice and Advice" which explains the law and gives examples of practice that is in use.
	Under Section 444A of the Education Act 1996 (as amended) police officers may issue fixed penalty notices to parents who fail to secure their child's regular attendance, if they have been authorised to do so by the local code of practice on the use of penalty notices.
	Police community support officers may also use the powers to remove pupils from a public place and to issue fixed penalty notices, if they have been designated to do so under the Police Reform Act 2002 by the .chief officer of the force concerned.
	The Department has not collected data on the number of "school attendance and exclusions sweeps" conducted by local authorities since autumn 2006, when we ceased co-ordinating national sweeps, allowing authorities to run sweeps according to local need. I have put the data we collected as part of the rationally co-ordinated exercises in the Library of the House.
	Analyses of national data show that there is a correlation between absence from school and pupils' levels of achievement, with average performance of pupils in schools with lower levels of absence better than pupils in schools with higher levels of absence. Data for 2006-07 showed that in secondary schools with an average of 12 days absence per pupil 36 per cent. of pupils or more obtained five of more GCSEs at grade A* to C including English and maths compared with 91 per cent. of pupils in secondary schools with an average of less than six days absence per pupil In primary schools with an average of more than 12 days absence per pupil 52 per cent. of 11-year-olds achieved level 4 or above in English and mathematics compared with 84 per cent. of pupils in schools where the average absence was less than six days per pupil.
	
		
			  Number of school attendance and exclusion sweeps organised by local authorities as part of the nationally co-ordinated exercises 
			   Number of Sweeps 
			  Local Authority  Spring 2003  2003- 4 s chool  y ear  2004-5  school y ear  2005-6  s chool  y ear  Autumn 2006 
			 Barking and Dagenham 3 11 6 6 3 
			 Barnet 8 0 13 5 2 
			 Barnsley 24 52 85 37 18 
			 Bath and NE Somerset 7 14 7 0 0 
			 Bedfordshire 14 28 42 38 16 
			 Bexley 1 7 29 12 4 
			 Birmingham 10 58 22 30 20 
			 Blackburn 14 10 16 20 7 
			 Blackpool 5 6 9 9 4 
			 Bolton 2 3 4 1 2 
			 Bournemouth 3 4 8 10 7 
			 Bracknell Forest 12 13 9 11 8 
			 Bradford 7 15 14 16 0 
			 Brent 9 0 3 8 3 
			 Brighton and Hove 2 3 2 4 6 
			 Bristol City 38 115 5 6 5 
			 Bromley 4 8 18 28 13 
			 Buckinghamshire 0 6 8 12 10 
			 Bury 10 112 70 46 10 
			 Calderdale 5 20 20 12 4 
			 Cambridgeshire 0 .20 29 21 5 
			 Camden 3 5 20 17 8 
			 Cheshire 1 5 23 17 10 
			 City of Derby 32 94 74 62 0 
			 City of Nottingham 25 38 32 33 8 
			 City of Westminster 5 8 7 8 3 
			 Cornwall 2 6 9 9 2 
			 Corporation of London 0 3 4 4 0 
			 Coventry 0 27 33 24 0 
			 Croydon 4 4 10 9 2 
			 Cumbria 0 4 8 4 2 
			 Darlington 2 3 4 5 1 
			 Derbyshire 4 29 25 26 0 
			 Devon 0 5 11 12 5 
			 Doncaster 4 11 24 0 11 
			 Dorset 3 0 5 4 11 
			 Dudley 0 18 7 9 4 
			 Durham 18 42 39 47 21 
			 Ealing 6 15 21 22 10 
			 East Riding 4 10 21 0 0 
			 East Sussex NB UG1 3 6 14 25 25 
			 Enfield 5 8 5 2 5 
			 Essex 6 12 26 29 14 
			 Gateshead 11 24 21 20 14 
			 Gloucestershire 6 10 12 16 8 
			 Greenwich 9 10 15 10 5 
			 Hackney 5 6 20 15 18 
			 Halton 8 4 10 12 9 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 16 18 33 30 14 
			 Hampshire 12 18 8 11 5 
			 Haringey 8 17 16 27 10 
			 Harrow 11 20 19 14 3 
			 Hartlepool 4 9 18 12 9 
			 Havering 3 0 2 6 4 
			 Herefordshire 3 6 2 0 1 
			 Hertfordshire 23 3 17 13 11 
			 Hillingdon 16 29 38 38 17 
			 Hounslow 8 12 18 64 21 
			 Isle of Wight 9 17 8 4 4 
			 Isles of Scilly 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Islington 10 18 25 20 7 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 8 16 7 5 1 
			 Kent 15 37 38 42 20 
			 Kingston upon Hull 14 11 8 0 5 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 3 6 5 14 4 
			 Kirklees 3 6 3 2 5 
			 Knowsley 0 0 16 9 3 
			 Lambeth 5 9 10 0 0 
			 Lancashire 0 46 30 34 14 
			 Leeds 4 35 44 37 5 
			 Leicester City 2 4 5 8 3 
			 Leicestershire 2 10 14 11 4 
			 Lewisham 9 14 10 9 5 
			 Lincolnshire 8 17 17 13 8 
			 Liverpool 22 94 89 97 36 
			 Luton 0 2 3 12 8 
			 Manchester 6 14 10 19 20 
			 Medway 0 4 3 11 3 
			 Merton 2 9 8 11 5 
			 Middlesbrough 9 21 25 20 10 
			 Milton Keynes 6 18 10 11 2 
			 Newcastle-upon-Tyne 15 41 36 32 8 
			 Newham 0 30 14 10 4 
			 Norfolk 0 2 15 7 0 
			 North East Lincolnshire 5 8 7 4 2 
			 North Lincolnshire 9 48 29 15 15 
			 North Somerset 9 12 18 9 2 
			 North Tyneside 5 15 5 5 0 
			 North Yorkshire 8 8 26 18 5 
			 Northamptonshire 8 5 8 6 9 
			 Northumberland 9 17 24 18 10 
			 Nottinghamshire 8 17 14 17 12 
			 Oldham 4 8 9 7 5 
			 Oxfordshire 21 16 10 6 3 
			 Peterborough 1 5 5 0 0 
			 Plymouth 3 6 3 0 3 
			 Poole 1 6 9 4 0 
			 Portsmouth 1 2 2 2 1 
			 Reading 3 6 6 11 5 
			 Redbridge 3 7 6 3- 3 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 5 6 8 9 8 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames 4 8 6 7 2 
			 Rochdale 0 10 9 7 2 
			 Rotherham 12 18 30 23 14 
			 Rutland 0 1 2 4 2 
			 Salford 0 11 10 7 5 
			 Sandwell 21 78 46 71 27 
			 Sefton 10 66 46 66 30 
			 Sheffield 10 10 10 0 0 
			 Shropshire 4 18 21 18 12 
			 Slough 8 9 6 3 0 
			 Solihull 5 0 26 23 6 
			 Somerset 6 7 8 5 3 
			 South Gloucestershire 5 5 7 7 10 
			 South Tyneside 0 7 8 6 0 
			 Southampton 2 8 20 3 7 
			 Southend 3 3 5 2 0 
			 Southwark 0 0 2 17 11 
			 St Helens 18 10 9 10 5 
			 Staffordshire 27 55 27 32 22 
			 Stockport 10 30 26 20 20 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 2 5 5 6 0 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 6 8 5 33 0 
			 Suffolk 13 9 15 14 7 
			 Sunderland 5 10 17 19 14 
			 Surrey 9 19 18 14 9 
			 Sutton 6 9 15 17 2 
			 Swindon 4 1 8 10 7 
			 Tameside 2 7 9 24 0 
			 The Wrekin 6 23 20 32 11 
			 Thurrock 5 10 10 3 29 
			 Torbay 4 4 4 4 0 
			 Tower Hamlets 3 12 38 43 30 
			 Trafford 6 5 0 0 0 
			 Wakefield 3 10 6 8 4 
			 Walsall — 11 12 6 5 
			 Waltham Forest 3 12 12 11 6 
			 Wandsworth 6 7 3 6 2 
			 Warrington 10 19 20 12 3 
			 Warwickshire 0 4 4 4 3 
			 West Berkshire 4 9 8 6 3 
			 West Sussex 1 1 2 2 7 
			 Wigan :2 4 6 12 16 
			 Wiltshire 5 3 2 4 4 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 4 10 10 5 0 
			 Wirral 4 13 16 15 7 
			 Wokingham 0 2 1 a 0 
			 Wolverhampton 6 12 11 11 6 
			 York 4 47 22 25 23

Work Experience: Industrial Health and Safety

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether schools are required to conduct health and safety assessments in workplaces agreeing to take pupils on work experience placements; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Schools have the primary duty of care for their students and must ensure that health and safety risk assessments are carried out for work experience placements. Assessments are frequently carried out on schools' behalf by education business partnership organisations. Employers are responsible for the health and safety of everyone on their premises. 95 per cent. of young people participate in work experience, amounting to over half a million placements each year within which the track record of health and safety is excellent reflecting the care that schools and employers take to keep young people safe and to maximise the benefits of work experience.

Young Offenders: Administration of Justice

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the youth justice reforms introduced in 1998.

Beverley Hughes: The Youth Justice Board and local multi-agency youth offending teams were established in 1998 under the Crime and Disorder Act. A key role of the Youth Justice Board is to monitor the performance of, and standards for, the youth justice system. Its work is a key driver for the improvements the system has seen since the reforms introduced in 1998, and its ongoing assessment of the effectiveness of the system continues to influence policy on tackling youth crime and bringing about further improvements.
	Youth offending teams were described by the Audit Commission in Youth Justice 2004 as
	"a good example of a flexible, multi-disciplinary approach to service delivery from which other public sector partnerships could learn".
	In general, the new youth justice arrangements were described by the Audit Commission as
	"a significant improvement and a good model for delivering public services".
	The Audit Commission also identified that following the reforms to the youth justice system young offenders are more likely to receive an intervention, young offenders are dealt with more quickly, young offenders are more likely to make amends for their wrong-doing, and magistrates are very satisfied with the service they receive from Youth offending teams.
	Notable examples of improvements to the youth justice system are:
	Figures for 2005-06 and 2006-07 show that the number of first time entrants to the criminal justice system has reduced from 97,329 in 2005-06 to 93,730 in 2006-07.
	Self-reported youth offending levels are relatively stable, with about 25 per cent. of young people admitting to offending in the previous year although only a minority of this is serious and/or persistent.
	The national statistics published in May 2008 showed a reduction of 17.4 per cent. in the frequency rate of re-offending between 2000 and 2005. The results also show that the percentage of offenders who re-offended over a one year period fell from 40.2 per cent. in 2000 to 38.4 per cent. in 2005.

Youth in Action Programme

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which projects in the UK are funded under the Youth in Action programme of the European Union.

Beverley Hughes: The list shows those organisations so far approved in 2008 to receive funding from the UK National Agency under the European Union's Youth in Action programme by action type. An organisation appears in the list more than once where it has been approved for funding for more than one project.
	Records are not held by the UK for projects under this programme that are funded directly from the European Commission. These projects are therefore excluded from the list.
	 Action 1, Youth for Europe
	 Applicant :
	Theatr Fforwm Cymru
	Clubs for young people Wales
	Point Europa
	Portland Area Youth
	The Mendip Centre
	Devon and Cornwall Housing
	KPC YOUTH
	St. Comgalls Parish Youth Centre
	Portadown YMCA
	NEELB YOUTH SERVICE
	Birches Community Association
	Patrician Youth Centre
	Brownlow Area Youth Project
	Brownlow Area Youth Project
	East Belfast Area Youth Project
	Reach Across
	Reach Across
	Reach Across
	Reepham International Community Group
	Impact Youth Group
	Stockport Youth Service: the Duke of Edinburgh Award—Gold exploration group
	CSV Training and Enterprise North
	Leeds college of music
	Go Away and Learn GOAL
	Percy Hedley Foundation
	East Durham Youth in Action
	Evenwood and AYCC joint youth project
	Grey Lodge Settlement
	South Lanarkshire Council, Youth Learning Services
	Motherwell
	Motherwell
	Scripture Union England and Wales
	Littlehampton Rangers
	Groundwork North Northants
	Leicester Stars Football Club
	St. Matthews Community Solution Centre
	Norfolk county council
	South London Somali Society
	Albert and Friends Instant Circus
	Theatre Royal Stratford East
	National Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS)
	Lido Youth and Culture Association
	Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC Youth Forum)
	MeWe Art and Education
	Middlesbrough Youth Service
	4(th) Lymm Scout Group
	NEELB Youth Service
	Patrician Youth Centre
	Spirit of Enniskillen Trust
	Corpus Christi Youth Centre
	Spirit of Enniskillen Trust
	Inside Out
	Lewis and Harris Youth Clubs Association
	Perth and District YMCA
	Loch Lomond Pilgrimage Centre
	Muirhouse Youth Development Group (MYDG)
	CHAI—Community Help and Advice Initiative
	St. Ninian's Church Youth Challenge
	Bathgate PHAB Club
	Grey Lodge Settlement
	Scottish Youth Dance
	Tullochan Trust
	CHAI—Community Help and Advice Initiative
	The Southside Project
	Bishops Green Youth Project
	Robert Elkins for Oxfordshire County Council Youth Service
	Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDCB)
	Callington and District Twinning Association—CADTA
	Bristol City Council
	Wiltshire County Council Youth Development Service
	Devon Federation of Young Farmers Club
	Devon and Cornwall Housing Association
	1(st) Wellington Scout Group
	Cheddar Baptist Church Youth Group
	Pen-y-sarn Youth Club
	Wrexham Borough Council
	BISYOC
	Pit Stop 2000
	Now or Never Generation
	The Urban Art Project
	Vertigo theatre drama group
	Minority of Europe
	Next Generation
	Carmarthen Post 16
	Hackney Remixed
	Matt Roberts Arts Group
	Lewisham Young Mayors
	Youth promoters Leeds (Everything is possible)
	 Action 2, European Voluntary Service
	A Rocha
	Belfast Community Circus School
	Bryson House—Ulster Wildlife Trust
	Bryson House—RNIB Northern Ireland
	Café Project
	Concordia
	CSV 2008 R1
	CVNI
	Depaul Trust
	Depaul Trust Northern Ireland
	Ecoseeds
	Edinburgh Cyrenians
	EIL Tools for Self Reliance
	EIL Upton Warren
	EIL First Key
	EIL YMCA Winchester
	EIL Malvern Hills
	EIL YMCA Fairthorne
	The Forest
	ICP Cardigan Bay
	ICP Sea Trust
	ICP Meeting of Minds
	ICYE Cambridge Cyrenians
	ICYE Delos
	Leonard Cheshire Seven Rivers
	Options for Life
	Point Europa
	Public Achievement
	StudentForce
	SWYM
	UNA
	West London YMCA
	UCAN2
	Edinburgh University Settlement
	ICYE
	ICYE
	Action Reconciliation Service for Peace
	Bath YMCA
	British Red Cross
	Bryson Charitable Group—HI Nl
	Bryson Charitable Group—Queen's Uni
	Bryson Charitable Group—UWT
	CSV
	EIL—First Key
	EIL—Romford YMCA
	EIL—Slimbridge Wildfowl
	EIL—Worcester YMCA
	Everything's Possible—Arts
	Everything's Possible—Youth
	Grey Lodge Settlement
	ICYE—Cambridge Cyrenians
	ICYE—Delos
	ICYE—Treloar Trust
	MYDG
	National Trust
	Options for Life
	Pestalozzi
	Point Europa
	Southwell House
	Student Force
	Time for God
	Tools for Solidarity
	UNA Exchange
	British Red Cross
	Bryson Charitable Group
	UNA Exchange
	Depaul Trust
	Everything's Possible
	 Action 3.1, Youth in the World
	Bridges Project
	Play-a Part
	South Gloucestershire Council Youth Service
	Minorities of Europe
	Northumberland Inter-Cultural Experience Group
	Charnwood Racial Equality Council
	Minorities of Europe
	Minorities of Europe
	Youthaction, Northern Ireland
	Enterprising Newcastle
	Clue Academy
	Cambridge House
	Minorities of Europe
	Warwickshire Association of Youth Clubs, WAYC
	Axis Educational Trust
	Tides Training and consultancy
	International School for Peace Studies
	 Action 4.3, Youth Support
	International Network for Culture and Arts
	Everything's Possible
	Inside Out Project
	Inside Out Project
	Network4YOUth England
	Canllaw Online Cyf
	Community Education Services
	Chester Lions Club
	Point Europa
	North Eastern Education and Library Board
	Brouhaha International
	Young Farmers' Clubs of Ulster
	Centre for Outdoor Education, Trinity College Carmarthen
	Inside Out Project
	Sherbourne Douzelage
	ICP Partneriaeth
	Point Europa
	Apsley Paper Trail
	 Action 5.1, Youth Policy Co-operation
	European Badminton Youth Network